Riyadh: Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and his Saudi Arabian counterpart, Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud, have agreed on the importance of ensuring free and safe navigation in the Strait of Hormuz during a strategic dialogue in Riyadh. The meeting emphasized the need to maintain this crucial passage without incurring additional costs.

According to Philippines News Agency, the ministers discussed regional tensions, notably the attacks on Saudi Arabia by the Houthi militant group from Yemen. Motegi condemned these attacks, highlighting the ongoing instability in the region.

Saudi Arabia remains a vital supplier of crude oil to Japan. During the talks, Motegi presented Japan's Partnership on Wide Energy and Resources Resilience Asia, or POWERR Asia, which aims to bolster oil reserves across Asia, and sought Saudi cooperation in ensuring a stable energy supply.

The Saudi Arabian minister welcomed the POWERR Asia framework, expressing readiness to collaborate on securing oil supplies for international markets.