When Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae visited US President Donald Trump at the White House on March 19, the two leaders discussed the Iran situation along with other issues.

Concerning ensuring safety of the Strait of Hormuz, Takaichi told reporters after the summit talks that she clearly explained to Trump that there are limits to what Japan can and cannot do within the framework of the law.

According to meeting participants, the Japanese leader said dispatching the Self-Defense Forces would be difficult until a formal ceasefire agreement is reached, and the US president showed understanding of her explanation.

Senior Japanese government officials said Takaichi mentioned constraints under the war-renouncing Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution when she made the remarks.

After the summit talks, Trump said in an interview with FOX News that he believes Japan will support the United States if needed but noted that the country has constitutional constraints.

In 2019 when the late Abe Shinzo was prime minister and tensions in the Middle East heightened, Japan did not join the US-led coalition of willing nations and instead dispatched the SDF to waters outside the Strait of Hormuz for intelligence gathering operations.

Before her summit with Trump, Takaichi told a parliamentary session that while Abe was prime minister, he once carefully explained to Trump about Japan's Constitution and clearly said that what cannot be done simply cannot be done.

She said that if Trump has forgotten this, she will make sure to explain it again.