ISTANBUL

Japan and Germany agreed Sunday to expand military cooperation and contribute to "appropriate" efforts to ensure safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, but only after the combat operations have ceased, local media reports said.

The agreement was reached during a meeting between the visiting German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius and his Japanese counterpart Shinjiro Koizumi at a naval facility in Yokosuka, Kanagawa prefecture, The Japan Times reported.

At an hour-long meeting, the two sides agreed to ramp up activities between their armed forces, pledging to step up cooperation “in various forms” across a wide range of defense-related areas, including military-industrial cooperation.

"It’s more important than ever for the two countries to work closely together," Koizumi told a press briefing after the meeting.

This, he added, will include regular defense consultations, including on how to respond to "potential crises."

Pistorius, who is on a two-day visit to Japan, said the two sides are also exploring the possibility of signing a visiting-forces pact that would facilitate reciprocal troop deployments.

The ministers also exchanged views on regional security issues, including developments in the Indo-Pacific and the situation surrounding Iran, reaffirming their intention to maintain close coordination.

Japan and Germany agree to contribute to appropriate efforts to ensure safe passage through the Hormuz Strait, including through demining operations, if required, but only after combat operations have ceased, Pistorius said.

Iran on Saturday said it was prepared to facilitate the safe passage of Japanese vessels through the Strait of Hormuz if Tokyo coordinates with Tehran, adding that the waterway—one of the crucial international oil shipping routes—remained open to neutral countries.

Regional tensions in the Middle East have escalated since Israel and the US launched a joint offensive against Iran on Feb. 28, killing over 1,300 people, including then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

Iran has retaliated with drone and missile attacks across the region and has effectively closed to most ships the Strait of Hormuz, which normally handles about 20 million barrels per day and roughly 20% of global liquefied natural gas trade.