Japan will send aircraft and destroyers to the Middle East to protect oil ships and may use weapons in an emergency.

"According to a plan approved by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's cabinet, a destroyer equipped with helicopters and two P-3C reconnaissance planes will be sent to the Middle East to collect information to ensure the safety of the troops. Japanese tankers move around the region. If there is an emergency situation, the Ministry of Defense will issue a special order to allow the forces to use weapons to protect ships in danger, " Japanese government spokesman announced today.

Several international commercial vessels were attacked in the Middle East region in May and June, including the Japanese oil tanker Kokuka Courageous. The United States accuses Iran of being behind the attacks, but it denies it.

The Japanese government's decision to send troops to the Middle East will take effect until December 26, 2020, after which it should be extended. Japanese forces will patrol the Gulf of Oman, the Gulf of Aden and the northern part of the Arabian Sea but do not operate in the Strait of Hormuz, off Iran. A Japanese Defense Ministry official said patrol flights would take place in January 2020 and the destroyer would be on duty in February 2020.

"Peaceful stability in the Middle East is extremely important to the peace and prosperity of the world, including Japan. Ensuring the safety of ships related to Japan to travel safely in the Middle East, the region." providing the world's main energy, is very important, "Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told a regular news conference in Tokyo today.

Japan's petroleum import and refining companies welcomed the government's decision. Japan Petroleum Association Chairman Takashi Tsukioka said the government's decision "had a positive impact on the safety of the navigation of ships in the Middle East" in the context of unpredictable regional conditions. Nearly 90% of Japan's crude oil imports come from the Middle East.

Tensions between Iran and the US escalated after President Donald Trump withdrew from the nuclear deal in May 2018, then imposed a series of sanctions that crippled the Middle Eastern national economy. However, Japan chose to maintain friendly relations with Iran and did not join the coalition patrol offshore Iran at the request of the US ally.