Trump Uses Pearl Harbor Against Japan and Calls NATO Stupid! Who Will Protect the Strait of Hormuz?

Huitong Finance APP News — On Friday, March 20, U.S. President Donald Trump met for the first time with Japan’s new Prime Minister, Sanae Takaichi, in the Oval Office at the White House. During the meeting, a Japanese journalist directly questioned why the U.S. did not notify allies, including Japan, in advance before launching an attack on Iran on February 28.

Taking this as an opportunity, Trump publicly explained that confidentiality was maintained to preserve the element of surprise, using historical events as an analogy, which sparked widespread controversy and an awkward atmosphere.

If the conflict continues, coordination among allies will become even more difficult, and the security of global energy routes and regional stability will face greater uncertainty. During Friday’s Asian trading hours, U.S. crude oil prices fluctuated downward but remained significantly above pre-conflict levels, currently trading around $93.25 per barrel, down about 2.4% intraday.

Trump’s Pearl Harbor analogy responds to confidentiality concerns

Trump bluntly stated, “Who knows better than you? Why didn’t you tell me about Pearl Harbor in advance? You trust a surprise attack more than I do.” He referenced Japan’s surprise attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941—which resulted in over 2,400 American deaths and led the U.S. to enter World War II—to question the Japanese journalist, implying that surprise attacks have decisive military value.

Trump further claimed that the recent strike on Iran “destroyed 50% of our expected targets” two days ago, to demonstrate the effectiveness of the secrecy strategy. These remarks directly linked the current geopolitical conflict to Japan’s sensitive WWII history, sparking widespread controversy and an awkward atmosphere.

Sanae Takaichi’s on-site reaction and Japan’s stance

Upon hearing Trump mention Pearl Harbor, Sanae Takaichi visibly took a deep breath, leaned back in her chair, and appeared uneasy and uncomfortable. As Japan’s new Prime Minister, Takaichi emphasized pragmatic diplomacy after taking office, but her on-site reaction to this historical analogy was interpreted by the media as an attempt to restrain her emotions and avoid escalating the controversy.

The Japanese government had previously stated that it has no intention of dispatching Maritime Self-Defense Force vessels to escort ships in the Middle East. Its official X account also posted that “the U.S. did not request Japan to deploy ships.”

U.S. pressure on the security of the Strait of Hormuz

During the meeting, Trump praised Japan for “stepping up” to help ensure the security of the Strait of Hormuz, saying Japan’s performance was “different from NATO.” Earlier, Japan, the UK, France, Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands issued a joint statement expressing their “readiness to make appropriate contributions to ensure the safe navigation of the Strait of Hormuz.”

However, the statement lacked specific military commitments. Trump had previously called on allies to participate in escort missions multiple times and criticized NATO’s non-involvement in the Iran war as a “very foolish mistake.”

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius responded that “this is not our war; we did not initiate it,” and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz reiterated on Thursday that as long as the war continues, Germany will not participate militarily in ensuring freedom of navigation through the strait.

Japan’s constitutional restrictions and cautious stance among allies

Japan’s Peace Constitution Article 9 renounces war and prohibits the use of military force to resolve international disputes. The Self-Defense Forces’ actions are strictly governed by law. On Tuesday, Takaichi stated that the government is studying measures that could be taken within the framework of the constitution but did not promise military deployment.

European leaders such as French President Macron and German Chancellor Scholz emphasized that the conflict was not initiated by their countries and expressed reluctance to become deeply involved. Trump’s criticism of NATO and European allies has heightened transatlantic tensions, and his Pearl Harbor analogy with Japan further complicates the U.S.-Japan alliance.

Summary

In his first meeting with Sanae Takaichi, Trump justified the Iran strike’s secrecy by referencing Pearl Harbor, claiming military surprise was necessary. In reality, he used a historical scar as a rhetorical tool, causing diplomatic awkwardness and sensitive reactions within Japan.

This move highlights the U.S.’s eagerness to rally allies to share the burden of escorting ships through the Strait of Hormuz amid Iran tensions, but it faces limitations due to Japan’s constitutional restrictions and Europe’s collective caution against “non-self” wars.

While the U.S.-Japan alliance remains strategically core, historical memory, regional disagreements, and constitutional constraints limit the depth of cooperation. If the conflict persists, coordination among allies will become even more challenging, and global energy security and regional stability will face higher uncertainties.

As of 10:39 Beijing time, U.S. crude oil is trading continuously at $93.55 per barrel.