Japan, EU to cooperate on protection of critical maritime routes

On Friday, Japan and the European Union had confirmed their cooperation in safeguarding crucial sea lanes amid the de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

During the bilateral High-Level Economic Dialogue, Japan’s Economy Minister Akazawa Ryosei and EU Executive Vice-President Stephane Sejourne issued a joint statement that both sides reaffirmed the importance of secure and uninterrupted trade flows, including the safety of navigation and the protection of critical maritime routes and infrastructure.

Interviewed by journalists, Akazawa said that two parties agreed to strengthen complementarities and build resilient and secure markets in areas such as critical minerals, batteries and defense.