As of May 19, 2026, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung agreed to deepen Japan-ROK coordination on energy security, supply chains, and regional deterrence amid growing geopolitical instability in the Indo-Pacific and Middle East. [1] The leaders launched a new bilateral cooperation initiative focused on securing energy supply chains, including petroleum products and LNG, under the framework of the updated “Free and Open Indo-Pacific” strategy and the “POWERR Asia” initiative announced last month. The agreement includes plans to strengthen regional energy stockpiling and explore mutual crude oil, petroleum product, and LNG supply swaps between Japan and South Korea. The two sides also emphasized cooperation on critical mineral supply chains, economic security, and trilateral coordination with the United States, while reaffirming joint positions on North Korea and broader Indo-Pacific stability.

[1] https://japan.kantei.go.jp/105/diplomatic/202605/19rok.html