The Socialist Republic of Vietnam has asked Japan and South Korea for support in securing crude oil supplies as tensions in the Middle East disrupt global energy flows, officials said, as reported by Japanese outlet TBS Newsdig.
The request comes after Iran effectively blockaded the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global oil shipments, raising concerns about supply shortages and broader economic impacts.
Vietnam’s Ministry of Industry and Trade said Deputy Minister Nguyen Hoang Long met with senior officials from Japan and South Korea during an international energy security conference in Tokyo on Saturday, March 14.
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In talks with Takehiko Matsuo, Japan’s vice minister for international affairs at the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Long discussed long-term cooperation in the energy sector. He also requested Japan’s assistance in securing crude oil supplies, noting that “Japan has ample crude oil reserves,” according to the ministry.
Long made a similar appeal in a meeting with South Korean Industry Minister Ahn Duk-geun, during which he “requested South Korea’s support to ensure Vietnam can smoothly import crude oil.”
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The outreach reflects growing concern in Vietnam over the impact of Middle East instability. Gasoline prices have risen worldwide in recent days, and some gas stations have temporarily closed as supplies tighten.
Vietnam and other Southeast Asian nations rely heavily on oil imports from the Middle East, leaving them particulalrly vulnerable to disruptions in the region.
At an emergency meeting on March 13, foreign ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) agreed to coordinate efforts to minimize potential supply disruptions and maintain energy stability across the region.
Vietnamese officials said they are working to stabilize domestic fuel supplies as uncertainty in global markets continues.
Japan, along with China and the United States, have some of the world’s largest reserves of oil, though many industries required specialized petroleum products that are in shorter supply due to the ongoing conflict.
Since the beginning of the Iran war on Feb. 28, Japan has been considering increasing its purchases of Russian oil to offset supply risks, with Ryosei Akazawa, Japanese Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, calling Russian supply “extremely important.”
“Securing crude oil from overseas, including Russian crude oil, is extremely important for our country’s energy security,” Akazawa told reporters on March 15.
