Japan, Canada sign strategic pact on defense and energy, war in Middle East fuels oil concerns

Japan and Canada have signed a strategic agreement aimed at strengthening cooperation in defence, economic and energy security, as military attacks by the United States and Israel on Iran raise concerns about international oil supplies.

Tokyo — Japan and Canada signed a strategic agreement on Friday aimed at strengthening cooperation in defense, economic and energy security as military attacks on Iran by the United States and Israel raised concerns about international oil supplies.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and his Canadian counterpart Mark Carney shared the importance of energy security at a time of “geopolitical uncertainty,” according to a statement from the Japanese Foreign Ministry.

During the talks in Tokyo, the two leaders agreed to work together to diversify energy resources and expand trade and investment to support energy supply chains, according to a road map released by the ministry.

“The world is at a turning point. We see manifestations in the Middle East. We see it everywhere,” Carney said at a joint news conference.

Carney’s first visit to Japan since taking office last year comes as war in the Middle East raises concerns about crude oil shipments through Iran’s Strait of Hormuz. Earlier this week in Australia, Carney called for an escalation of the Iran war.

Carney and Takaichi agreed to launch bilateral dialogues on economic security and cyber policies as both countries face China’s growing assertiveness in trade and military activities in the Indo-Pacific.

Japan and Canada will begin negotiations aimed at achieving a defense agreement that would simplify procedures for their military visits, joint exercises and other operations.

The two sides will increase cooperation between their arms industries as Tokyo seeks to expand its modest defense sales as part of Taikaichi’s plan to further build Japan’s military capability and arms industry to increase cooperation with friendly nations.

Earlier Friday, Takaichi’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partner the Japan Innovation Party submitted a proposal to lift restrictions on the sale of lethal weapons in a further break from Japan’s postwar pacifist philosophy. The government is expected to formally approve the proposal in the coming months.

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AP video journalist Ayaka McGill in Tokyo contributed to this report.