Tokyo's Shift Away from Middle East Oil Sets Stage for Global Disruption
Japan's energy security is precarious due to its reliance on foreign oil. The country imports almost all of its oil from overseas, primarily from the Middle East. This has led Tokyo to reassess its supply sources after every major energy shock.
The Japanese government plans to diversify procurement sources and transport routes to break free from a structural vulnerability that hampers economic growth due to recurring energy supply instability. To achieve this, it will shift away from the Middle East, which currently supplies 99.9% of Japan's oil imports.
Other countries in Asia, such as South Korea, are also following suit by reducing their reliance on Middle Eastern oil. Seoul aims to decrease its oil imports from the region to 50% of total supplies.