Japan reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening cooperation with Kuwait amid ongoing challenges in the Middle East, emphasizing the importance of energy security and regional stability. In a recent statement, Japan's ambassador praised the resilience and unity of the Kuwaiti people in facing recent difficulties and outlined the deepening diplomatic and economic ties between the two nations.
On May 7, Yamada Kenji, Japan’s State Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, visited Kuwait for high-level meetings with Kuwaiti officials, including H.E. Mr. Tareq Sulaiman Al-Roumi, Minister of Oil, and H.E. Dr. Subaih Abdulaziz Al-Mukhaizeem, Minister of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy. Discussions with Minister Al-Roumi centered on securing stable petroleum supplies and developing resilient supply chains. Both sides agreed to continue collaboration to strengthen energy security amid disruptions in key maritime routes such as the Strait of Hormuz, which affect Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and Asian economies heavily reliant on energy imports.
In talks with Minister Al-Mukhaizeem, Japan’s State Minister acknowledged the longstanding contributions of Japanese companies to Kuwait’s water and electricity sectors and explored avenues for further cooperation despite the region’s challenges. The visit represented a constructive effort to reinforce solidarity and foster bilateral partnership.
A key initiative highlighted during the visit was Japan’s new “Partnership On Wide Energy and Resources Resilience Asia” (POWERR Asia), launched by Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae in April. This initiative aims to enhance energy security and supply-chain resilience across Asia through approximately $10 billion in financial assistance. Projects under POWERR Asia include expanding crude oil reserves, securing vital sea lanes, and restoring oil production capacity in the Middle East. The first project will support crude oil procurement for Vietnam’s Nghi Son Refinery, operated jointly by Japanese and Kuwaiti partners, underscoring Kuwait’s strategic role in Japan’s energy security framework.
POWERR Asia forms a critical part of Japan’s updated “Free and Open Indo-Pacific” (FOIP) vision, a decade-old diplomatic concept that promotes freedom, rule of law, inclusiveness, and openness in the region. The updated FOIP prioritizes economic infrastructure development, public-private collaboration for growth, and enhanced security cooperation to uphold peace and stability amid a rapidly changing global environment.
Japan affirmed its ongoing adherence to international law, including the United Nations Charter, and reiterated its determination to maintain a free and open international order grounded in the rule of law. Both Japan and Kuwait, who have maintained close bilateral relations for 65 years and recently elevated their ties to a “Comprehensive Strategic Partnership,” are committed to working together to ensure peace in the Middle East, secure energy supplies, and foster regional prosperity.
The Japanese ambassador emphasized that, despite the current complexities in global security and economics, the partnership with Kuwait remains a cornerstone of Japan’s diplomatic and economic strategy in the Indo-Pacific region.