Japan, Europeans signal ‘readiness to contribute’ to efforts to keep Strait of Hormuz open
By Sarah Davis
Published on March 19, 2026.
The leaders of Japan and several European nations have expressed their readiness to contribute to efforts to keep the Strait of Hormuz open. The statement expressed deep concern over the impact of Iranian strikes on the global energy supply. The price of Brent crude oil rose after the Iranian military hit a gas facility in the United Arab Emirates and targeted energy fields in Qatar and Saudi Arabia. The International Energy Agency (IAE) has announced that its members will release 400 million barrels of oil from their reserves to offset rising global energy prices.
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