Tokyo, March 15, 2026 – The Europe Today: Senior officials from Japan and the United States held talks on strengthening cooperation in energy security on Saturday as oil and gas shipments through the Strait of Hormuz remain effectively halted due to escalating tensions in the Middle East.
Japan’s Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Ryosei Akazawa met with U.S. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum in Tokyo on the sidelines of an international energy security forum attended by ministers, business leaders, and officials from more than a dozen countries.
Speaking at the opening of the bilateral meeting, Akazawa expressed hope that the two-day event cohosted by Japan and the United States would mark the beginning of deeper cooperation on energy security in the Indo-Pacific region. He also highlighted the impact of the current crisis affecting shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route through which much of the Middle East’s oil bound for Asia is transported.
Akazawa emphasized the need to develop mid- and long-term energy infrastructure strategies, noting that the ongoing tensions—amid threats by Iran to disrupt shipping in the waterway during the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Tehran—demonstrate the risks of excessive reliance on a single region or technology for energy supply.
During the meeting, Burgum, who also chairs the National Energy Dominance Council, stressed the strategic importance of critical minerals in ensuring long-term energy security. He pledged continued efforts to strengthen supply chains for critical minerals, electricity, and liquid fuels.
Burgum also pointed to growing opportunities for investment cooperation between the two countries, particularly in securing critical mineral resources. Several business and investment agreements are expected to be signed during the event, known as the Indo-Pacific Energy Security Ministerial and Business Forum, which concludes on Sunday.
