Possibility of Japanese Prime Minister Abe Postponing Middle East Visit Due to Iranian Retaliation... "Self-Defense Forces Deployment Remains Unchanged"

Japan NSC Meeting Held

Opposition Parties Request Withdrawal of Self-Defense Forces Dispatch

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jaehee] Amid escalating military tensions between the United States and Iran, Kyodo News reported on the 8th that Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's visit to three Middle Eastern countries may be postponed.

According to the report, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said regarding the visit to the three Middle Eastern countries scheduled for mid-month, "We will assess the situation on site and make a judgment." Originally, Prime Minister Abe planned to visit three Middle Eastern countries including Saudi Arabia starting from the 11th.

Suga added, "Prime Minister Abe has ordered efforts to strengthen intelligence gathering and analysis, and to ensure the safety of Japanese nationals in the Middle East."

He also said, "We request all related parties to make diplomatic efforts to ease tensions."

Regarding the dispatch of the Self-Defense Forces to the Middle East, he stated, "There are no changes at this point," and "We are closely monitoring the local situation."

On the same day, the Japanese government held a four-minister meeting of the National Security Council (NSC), composed of the Prime Minister, Chief Cabinet Secretary, Foreign Minister, and Defense Minister, to discuss the Middle East situation and response measures.

Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said, "Regarding Iran's attack on the U.S. military base, I will visit the United States as scheduled in mid-month," and added, "If the situation permits, I would like to visit the U.S. next week for consultations."

Regarding Iran's attack on the U.S. military base in Iraq, Foreign Minister Motegi expressed "deep concern" and stated, "Further escalation must be avoided." He added, "We will continue various diplomatic efforts with a sense of urgency to stabilize the situation."

Meanwhile, four opposition parties including the Constitutional Democratic Party agreed to demand the withdrawal of the decision to dispatch the Self-Defense Forces.

According to NHK, Jun Azumi, the Constitutional Democratic Party's Diet Policy Committee Chair, said, "The dispatch of the Self-Defense Forces is an act that deviates from Japan's neutral diplomatic stance, and Prime Minister Abe's judgment was wrong."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.