The year 2023 marked a pivotal juncture in contemplating the past, present, and future of Japan-Middle East relations. This is because, 50 years ago, in 1973, the first oil crisis (or oil shock) significantly shook Japan’s political and economic foundations, shaping its diplomatic relations with the Middle East up to the present day.
Japan relies on imports to satisfy most of its oil needs, with approximately 90% of those imports coming from the Middle East. 50 years on from the oil crisis, the dependence on Middle Eastern oil has increased and is now over 95%. At that same time, against the backdrop of diminishing engagement from the United States, the Middle East is witnessing an expansion of Chinese and Russian presence, and global energy and trade relationships with the Middle East are undergoing substantial transformations. Viewed from the broader perspective of energy security and the maintenance of international order, Japanese diplomacy in the Middle East is under considerable pressure for reform.
In this article, after contextualizing the significance of the Middle East in the context of energy security and Japan’s diplomatic relations, I analyze the strengthening of Japan’s Middle East policy under the Abe administration, along with new developments in light of decarbonization and the shifting regional order of the Middle East. In this paper, North African countries are also positioned and discussed as part of the Middle East.
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The views, conclusions and recommendations expressed in this report are solely those of its author(s) and do not reflect the view of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, or its employees.