Japan PM Rebukes US Pressure to Ban Russian LNG Imports

During a bilateral meeting in Tokyo, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi told U.S. President Donald Trump that banning imports of Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) would be difficult due to Japan's energy security needs, as Russian LNG accounts for about 9% of Japan's total imports. Takaichi, Japan's first female prime minister, asked for understanding of Japan's dependence on Russian gas and warned that an immediate ban would destabilize the energy market and benefit China and Russia. Japan has increased LNG imports from the U.S. in recent years to diversify supplies but faces costly replacements for expiring contracts with Russia's Sakhalin-2 project, potentially driving up electricity prices. Japan imports less than 1% of its oil from Russia under a sanctions exemption expiring in December, with most oil coming from the Middle East. The U.S. administration, including President Trump and Treasury officials, has urged Japan to cease Russian energy imports and impose sanctions on Russian oil exporters to pressure Moscow over the Ukraine conflict. Despite U.S. pressure, Japan is balancing its energy needs with geopolitical considerations, seeking to diversify while maintaining stability.