Japan Navigates Energy Tensions: PM Takaichi Faces LNG Import Dilemma

In a meeting held in Tokyo, Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi communicated to U.S. President Donald Trump the challenges posed by banning Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports, according to unnamed Japanese government officials. The talks come amid rising international tensions over energy dependencies.

The discussion on Russian LNG imports highlighted a critical aspect of Japan's energy strategy, with Takaichi seeking Trump’s understanding of Japan's reliance on Russian supplies. These imports make up nearly 9% of the nation's total LNG needs, with significant stakes in the Sakhalin-2 project involving Japanese companies.

Amid intensified U.S. sanctions on Russian energy exporters, Takaichi, Japan’s first female Prime Minister, stressed the broader geopolitical ramifications to Trump. Japan, aiming to diversify its energy sources, increasingly looks to U.S. LNG amidst potential disruptions of its supply contracts with Russia.