apan wants to become a more pivotal player in the Middle East region. Speaking on the sidelines of the World Government Summit in Dubai in February 2023, Japanese Cabinet Secretary for Public Affairs Noriyuki Shikata explained that “For Japan, the peace and stability of the Gulf countries is extremely important.” Foreign powers have often been interested in the region for energy and security interests, but Shikata signaled that Japan’s interests are more diverse than that.
Japan’s Evolving Focus
Since the end of World War II, Tokyo has looked inward, steering clear of international politics as much as possible. Successive Japanese governments have focused on becoming a technological powerhouse for industrial advancement, economic stability, and scientific breakthroughs. Lately, however, Japan has clearly become more interested in asserting policy goals externally.
By late 2022 it had become obvious that the world’s third-largest economy is now aggressively shifting its focus toward building a more robust global presence. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s administration released three strategic documents illustrating this shift: a new National Security Strategy, National Defense Strategy, and Defense Buildup Plan. These were followed by a high-level meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden, during which Japan announced a 60% increase in defense spending for the next five years.
Plans for upgrading Japan’s military don’t rely solely on sophisticated equipment to develop “counter-strike capabilities” against traditional threats. Plans also include administrative and defensive tactical shifts to boost the country's cyberdefense and intelligence competencies.
Furthermore, Japan’s foreign policy shift isn’t just about its immediate neighborhood. Instead, Tokyo is keen to become more present in further regions and overall become more active in global affairs. Coincidentally or not, this comes at a time when Japan has ascended to the presidency of the G7—and has laid out an agenda for the year that focuses on global cooperation in the realms of trade, climate and energy, and digitalization.
A Changing Relationship with the Middle East
Japan appears to want to balance maintaining its close alliance with the U.S. with building stronger relations in Europe and the Middle East in a quest to become more strategically autonomous., Japanese expert Akiko Yoshioka explained that Tokyo had the “historical advantage of neutrality” in the Middle East, but lacked the “political leverage to be an influential mediator between parties in conflict because of stringent constitutional limitations on the military sphere.”
This is about to change.
Japan played its hand carefully in the Arab region, approaching governments without vocalizing criticism against governments and local policies. This is probably in part pragmatic; Japan relies on the likes of the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia for much of its hydrocarbon needs.
That energy relationship appears to be expanding, according to reports. Japan recently received its first low-carbon ammonia cargo from Saudi Arabia’s Aramco, which Japan plans to co-fire with fossil fuels to reduce its carbon emissions.
Energy is paramount to Japan, but the country is looking to broaden its relations with the region, particularly in the fields of technology and space with Saudi Arabia. Moreover, Japan has already embarked on a satellite project with the UAE.
In December 2022, the Saudi-Japanese Investment Forum met in Riyadh resulting in the signing of 15 agreements covering technology, artificial intelligence, industry, and clean energy. In parallel, according to reports, 99 Japanese companies are investing in Saudi Arabia in different sectors. Saudi Minister of Investment Khalid al-Falih specified that the Kingdom will be investing $3.3 trillion worth of investments in Japan by 2030.
The Japanese foreign ministry has also been more engaged, with Japan’s Foreign Minister, Yoshimasa Hayashi, discussing Tehran’s nuclear profile with his Iranian counterpart, Hussein Amir Abdollahian. Hayashi told Abdollahian that Japan supports the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), hoping to finally reach a resolution and full cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Furthermore, Hayashi called on Monday his Saudi counterpart Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah to discuss bilateral relations and further cooperation, while touching upon the need to stop military escalation in Sudan and ensure civilian protection.
Japan is taking measures to facilitate travel to and from the region, introducing new measures to streamline travel and visa processes for residents from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar in the hope of boosting tourism. Reports show that travel between the region and Japan has been gradually increasing since 2019.
Its presence in the region was also visible in humanitarian matters. In February 2023, Japan contributed $33.2 million to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) in support of Palestine refugees. The government was also quick to send aid and experts to Turkey and Syria following the devastating earthquake.
Recently, the United States has been less engaged in the Middle East—illustrated by China’s role in the Saudi Arabia-Iran agreement. This apparent void means an opportunity for other countries to build up their influence in the region. If recent history is any indication, Japan will play a key role in providing technological equipment, technical guidance, and general know-how in different fields. The country has a lot to offer, and a lot more to gain, especially after being somehow absent with a clean track record in approaching the region and its complexities.
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Japan Expands its Role in the Middle East
View of part of the Tokyo Imperial Palace (Kōkyo). Photo by Elena Ivanov on Unsplash.
April 25, 2023
Japan has begun asserting itself more confidently on the global stage, a significant departure from its traditional post-WW2 approach. A key part of that shift has been engagement with the Middle East, with major implications for the whole region, writes Marita Kassis.
J
apan wants to become a more pivotal player in the Middle East region. Speaking on the sidelines of the World Government Summit in Dubai in February 2023, Japanese Cabinet Secretary for Public Affairs Noriyuki Shikata explained that “For Japan, the peace and stability of the Gulf countries is extremely important.” Foreign powers have often been interested in the region for energy and security interests, but Shikata signaled that Japan’s interests are more diverse than that.
Japan’s Evolving Focus
Since the end of World War II, Tokyo has looked inward, steering clear of international politics as much as possible. Successive Japanese governments have focused on becoming a technological powerhouse for industrial advancement, economic stability, and scientific breakthroughs. Lately, however, Japan has clearly become more interested in asserting policy goals externally.
By late 2022 it had become obvious that the world’s third-largest economy is now aggressively shifting its focus toward building a more robust global presence. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s administration released three strategic documents illustrating this shift: a new National Security Strategy, National Defense Strategy, and Defense Buildup Plan. These were followed by a high-level meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden, during which Japan announced a 60% increase in defense spending for the next five years.
Plans for upgrading Japan’s military don’t rely solely on sophisticated equipment to develop “counter-strike capabilities” against traditional threats. Plans also include administrative and defensive tactical shifts to boost the country's cyberdefense and intelligence competencies.
Furthermore, Japan’s foreign policy shift isn’t just about its immediate neighborhood. Instead, Tokyo is keen to become more present in further regions and overall become more active in global affairs. Coincidentally or not, this comes at a time when Japan has ascended to the presidency of the G7—and has laid out an agenda for the year that focuses on global cooperation in the realms of trade, climate and energy, and digitalization.
A Changing Relationship with the Middle East
Japan appears to want to balance maintaining its close alliance with the U.S. with building stronger relations in Europe and the Middle East in a quest to become more strategically autonomous., Japanese expert Akiko Yoshioka explained that Tokyo had the “historical advantage of neutrality” in the Middle East, but lacked the “political leverage to be an influential mediator between parties in conflict because of stringent constitutional limitations on the military sphere.”
This is about to change.
Japan played its hand carefully in the Arab region, approaching governments without vocalizing criticism against governments and local policies. This is probably in part pragmatic; Japan relies on the likes of the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia for much of its hydrocarbon needs.
That energy relationship appears to be expanding, according to reports. Japan recently received its first low-carbon ammonia cargo from Saudi Arabia’s Aramco, which Japan plans to co-fire with fossil fuels to reduce its carbon emissions.
Energy is paramount to Japan, but the country is looking to broaden its relations with the region, particularly in the fields of technology and space with Saudi Arabia. Moreover, Japan has already embarked on a satellite project with the UAE.
In December 2022, the Saudi-Japanese Investment Forum met in Riyadh resulting in the signing of 15 agreements covering technology, artificial intelligence, industry, and clean energy. In parallel, according to reports, 99 Japanese companies are investing in Saudi Arabia in different sectors. Saudi Minister of Investment Khalid al-Falih specified that the Kingdom will be investing $3.3 trillion worth of investments in Japan by 2030.
The Japanese foreign ministry has also been more engaged, with Japan’s Foreign Minister, Yoshimasa Hayashi, discussing Tehran’s nuclear profile with his Iranian counterpart, Hussein Amir Abdollahian. Hayashi told Abdollahian that Japan supports the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), hoping to finally reach a resolution and full cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Furthermore, Hayashi called on Monday his Saudi counterpart Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah to discuss bilateral relations and further cooperation, while touching upon the need to stop military escalation in Sudan and ensure civilian protection.
Japan is taking measures to facilitate travel to and from the region, introducing new measures to streamline travel and visa processes for residents from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar in the hope of boosting tourism. Reports show that travel between the region and Japan has been gradually increasing since 2019.
Its presence in the region was also visible in humanitarian matters. In February 2023, Japan contributed $33.2 million to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) in support of Palestine refugees. The government was also quick to send aid and experts to Turkey and Syria following the devastating earthquake.
Recently, the United States has been less engaged in the Middle East—illustrated by China’s role in the Saudi Arabia-Iran agreement. This apparent void means an opportunity for other countries to build up their influence in the region. If recent history is any indication, Japan will play a key role in providing technological equipment, technical guidance, and general know-how in different fields. The country has a lot to offer, and a lot more to gain, especially after being somehow absent with a clean track record in approaching the region and its complexities.
