TOKYO – Japan has taken delivery of its first oil shipment from Russia since the outbreak of the US-Israeli war against Iran, as the closure of the Strait of Hormuz forces energy-dependent nations to scramble for alternative supplies.
The tanker, carrying crude produced as part of the Sakhalin-2 natural gas development project, reached the coast of Imabari in western Japan on Monday, according to reports from the Asahi Shimbun newspaper, TV Tokyo, and other media outlets.
Why this matters
Japan depends on the Middle East for approximately 95 percent of its oil imports. Since Iran effectively shut the Strait of Hormuz in late February – a direct consequence of the US-Israeli military campaign that critics say violates the UN Charter, as it was not authorized by the Security Council – global supply chains have been thrown into chaos.
Nearly 3,000 ships and 20,000 sailors remain stranded on both sides of the Strait. Oil prices have soared. And nations like Japan are now turning to unconventional sources – including Russian oil.
The Russian connection
The Sakhalin-2 project is not subject to global economic sanctions against Moscow imposed after the invasion of Ukraine in 2022. This has allowed Japan to legally receive Russian crude while other sources remain blocked.
According to reports:
- Wholesaler Taiyo Oil received a request from Japan’s economy ministry to take in the petroleum
- The shipment is part of efforts to diversify energy procurement
- Company officials could not immediately be reached for confirmation
Japan’s response
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said Monday that the global oil supply squeeze is inflicting an “enormous impact” on the Asia-Pacific region. She spoke after talks with Australia’s prime minister, and said both countries would respond urgently to secure stable energy supplies.
The bigger picture
| Impact of Strait Closure | Details |
|---|---|
| Japan’s oil imports | 95% from Middle East – now disrupted |
| Ships stranded | Nearly 3,000 |
| Sailors stranded | Approximately 20,000 |
| Oil prices | Surging globally |
| US gas prices | Exceeding $4 per gallon nationally |
The bottom line
Two months into the illegal US-Israeli war on Iran, the economic shockwaves have reached East Asia. Japan – a US ally – is now turning to Russian oil to keep its economy running. The war is not only reshaping the Middle East. It is redrawing global energy maps in ways no one anticipated.
