A Vulnerability That Has Lasted Too Long Japan imports 95% of its oil from the Middle East. Nearly 90% of those shipments pass through the Strait of Hormuz. Since the war began, tankers have been avoiding the area. Crude oil prices have surged beyond $100 per barrel. The result: the country faces the risk of shortages and skyrocketing pump prices. Faced with this emergency, Sanae Takaichi did not wait. On March 11, she announced the largest release of strategic reserves in Japanese history: 80 million barrels (45 days of consumption). The first barrels are being released today, March 16. To calm motorists, the government is subsidizing gasoline at 170 yen per liter. But this emergency measure is not enough. The real answer is being played out on the other side of the Pacific. $56 Billion for a “Lifetime” Partnership Finalized on March 14 during the Asia-Pacific Energy Security Forum in Tokyo, the agreement is massive:
U.S. crude oil: massive increase in imports and construction of a deepwater export terminal in Texas. Natural gas: $33 billion for a gigantic 9.2 GW natural gas power plant in Ohio (the largest in the world). LNG: long-term purchase contracts from the Haynesville basin and Gulf of Mexico terminals. Nuclear and critical minerals under discussion for several tens of billions more.
This deal fits into the broader framework of the $550 billion in Japanese investments promised to the United States since 2025. Energy has now become its central pillar. Why the United States? Because They Are Reliable “We can no longer depend on an unstable region,” Takaichi has repeatedly said. The United States, having become a net exporter thanks to shale oil, offers three decisive advantages:
Secure maritime routes (Pacific, no Hormuz). An unbreakable military and political alliance. Production that can ramp up quickly.
Donald Trump, who is scheduled to meet Takaichi in Washington in the coming days, has hailed “a win-win deal” that strengthens “dominant American energy.” What This Means in Concrete Terms for the Japanese People
Short term: lower pump prices thanks to reserves and the first American shipments. Medium term: real diversification. U.S. oil, currently marginal (about 4%), could reach 15–20% of imports by 2030. Long term: national energy security. Japan reduces its geopolitical vulnerability while supporting its transition (nuclear + gas as a bridge to renewables).
A Historic Turning Point Sanae Takaichi, Japan’s first female prime minister, is establishing herself as the leader who dared to break with 50 years of Middle Eastern dependence. By choosing America, she is not just playing geopolitics: she is protecting the Japanese economy, jobs, and the daily lives of 125 million citizens. The message is clear: faced with global shocks, Tokyo has chosen its side. And that side is called Washington.