A US Department of Defense spokesman who asked the Japanese volunteers to participate in the Volunteer Alliance concept that the Japanese government has decided to consider dispatching the Self-Defense Forces to the Gulf of Oman around the Holmes Strait for the purpose of ensuring the safety of its ships On the 18th, the Asahi Shimbun made a statement saying "If you want different actions, welcome your efforts." He said, “We ask all partners to continue to work closely together and share information to ensure freedom of navigation in the Holmes Strait”.
The spokesman stressed in a statement that "It is an international problem and an international solution is needed." As such, he continued to call on allies and partners to join the Marine Volunteer Initiative under the Volunteer Union, while showing his stance to “welcome” separate actions.
According to the United States, the initiative aims to build a system to help participating countries escort their ships in the Holmes Strait, as well as in the Gulf of Oman and the Bubble Mandeb Strait off Yemen. In addition to dispatching aircraft and ships, participating countries can contribute to financial support and information collection / analysis, and five countries including Saudi Arabia and the UK have announced their participation.
The Japanese government has decided not to participate in the initiative led by the United States in consideration of the friendly country Iran. As for dispatch, the Holmes Strait is avoided, and the purpose is to strengthen information collection for the purpose of “investigation and research” under the Ministry of Defense Establishment Law. On the other hand, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshiyoshi Tsuji also said at the conference on the 18th that “We will work closely with the United States,” and we expect to continue sharing information.
Former US Fleet in the Middle East ...
