Saudi King and Crown Prince Meet Abe: "We Must Work to Ease Middle East Tensions"

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyunjin] Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who is on a tour of the Middle East, met with Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on the 12th (local time) and said that the involved countries must unite to ease tensions in the Middle East, NHK and others reported.

According to reports, Prime Minister Abe held a 30-minute meeting with King Salman after lunch that day. He then had about an hour-long conversation with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. At the meeting, Abe said, "Military conflicts in the Middle East, including Iran, have a significant impact on world peace and stability," adding, "It is necessary to avoid any further escalation of the situation."

Abe also stated, "Japan will persistently carry out maximum diplomatic efforts," and "We are asking all involved countries to make diplomatic efforts to ease tensions." In response, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said, "I fully agree with Prime Minister Abe's view. Tensions in this region adversely affect the entire world," emphasizing the need for dialogue among the parties involved.

Furthermore, Abe explained Japan's plan to dispatch the Maritime Self-Defense Force to the Middle East to ensure the safe navigation of Japanese vessels, and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman expressed his position of "fully supporting Japan's response." Japan dispatched the Maritime Self-Defense Force to the Middle East on the 11th.

In addition to the Middle East situation, discussions on economic cooperation between Saudi Arabia and Japan also took place. King Salman said, "We hope to strengthen strategic partnerships with Japan in many fields, not only energy." NHK reported that the two leaders agreed to accelerate cooperation in various fields, including energy.

Prime Minister Abe, who departed Japan on the 11th for his Middle East tour, plans to visit three countries?Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Oman?before returning on the 15th.

Meanwhile, amid escalating tensions between the U.S. and Iran, Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi departed for the U.S. on the same day. On the 15th, he is scheduled to hold talks with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in San Francisco. There is also a possibility of Japan-South Korea and trilateral Japan-U.S.-South Korea meetings with Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha. Japanese Defense Minister Taro Kono has been visiting the U.S. for five days since the previous day and plans to meet with U.S. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper to exchange views on the Middle East situation.

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