JAPAN

Japan again denies U.S. official’s claim Takaichi pledged to send MSDF to Mideast

Japan's defense minister denied the claim by U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Mike Waltz that Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi had committed to sending vessels to the region.

By The Japan Times

• March 24, 2026 at 5:30 AM

Japan again denies U.S. official’s claim Takaichi pledged to send MSDF to Mideast Photo: The Japan Times

Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi speaks during a news conference at parliament in Tokyo on March 13
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The Japanese government on Tuesday again dismissed a claim by the U.S
that Tokyo had committed to sending naval ships to the Middle East amid the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran.“To my knowledge, Japan has not made any specific commitment,” Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi told a regular news conference.U.S
Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz claimed on CBS’ “Face the Nation” hours earlier that Washington’s partners, including Tokyo, were offering support for opening the Strait of Hormuz, which has effectively been closed by Iran.

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