（Press Release）
March 16, 2026
Ministry of Defense
On March 15, commencing at around 9:30 p.m. for approximately 30 minutes, Defense Minister Koizumi and Secretary of War Hegseth held a telephone conference, following their previous call on March 10th. The summary is as follows.
Regarding the situation in the Middle East including the Strait of Hormuz, Secretary Hegseth provided an overview of the latest developments and the outlook. Minister Koizumi stated that maintaining peace and stability in the Middle East, including the Strait of Hormuz, is of critical importance to the international community, including Japan. He conveyed Japan’s intention to closely communicate with relevant countries, including the United States.
Secretary Hegseth reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to strengthening the deterrence and response capabilities of the Japan–U.S. Alliance and to peace and stability in the region, stated that the recent situation in the Middle East does not entail any changes to the posture of U.S. forces in Japan, and that U.S. forces in Japan continue to maintain a full state of readiness. Minister Koizumi, for his part, conveyed that the Ministry of Defense and the Self-Defense Forces are likewise ensuring thorough vigilance and surveillance in the areas surrounding Japan.
The Ministers concurred to maintain close communication.
Japan-U.S. Defense Ministerial Telephone Conference (Summary).pdf