Japan PM faces Trump's Pearl Harbor surpriseUS President Donald Trump, right, with Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in the Oval Office. (Photo: AFP)WASHINGTON — Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi sailed smoothly past a potential clash with Donald Trump over Iran on Thursday, though the United States president whipped up a bit of a storm about Pearl Harbor. Trump gave few details about what help Japan might provide in securing the crucial waterway, through which one-fifth of the world's oil normally passes. But just over an hour before the Trump meeting, Japan and five other allies including Britain and France said they were ready "to contribute to appropriate efforts to ensure safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz". Trump said it would be "appropriate" for Japan and other allies to contribute, noting that Japan gets around 90% of its oil through the strait.

Source: Bangkok Post March 20, 2026 10:41 UTC