The United States is pressing Japan to end its imports of Russian energy, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent revealed on Wednesday, just hours after President Donald Trump announced that India would stop purchasing oil from Moscow.
Bessent shared on X that he discussed Washington’s expectation with visiting Japanese Finance Minister Katsunobu Kato, emphasizing the need for Japan to halt Russian energy imports. Japan, which depends heavily on foreign oil and gas, imported 582 billion yen ($3.9 billion) worth of Russian liquefied natural gas in 2023, accounting for nearly 9 percent of its total LNG imports, according to the latest customs data.
Kato, speaking to reporters in Washington, refrained from commenting directly on Bessent’s remarks. “I’d like to refrain from discussing what other ministers said,” he stated. He added that Japan remains committed to contributing to a just peace in Ukraine, coordinating closely with fellow G7 nations.
The call for Japan to curb its energy ties with Russia comes amid broader US efforts to pressure nations into reducing dependence on Moscow. Earlier on Wednesday, Trump claimed that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had promised New Delhi would cease buying Russian oil. “You know, you can’t do it immediately. It’s a little bit of a process, but the process is going to be over with soon,” Trump told reporters. Modi has historically defended India’s energy relationship with Russia despite Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.
Tensions over trade have also played a role. In August, Trump raised tariffs on Indian exports to the United States to 50 percent, with aides accusing India of indirectly supporting Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Beyond energy, Bessent noted that discussions with Kato included plans for mobilizing Japanese strategic investments in the United States under the US-Japan trade and investment agreement, signaling a broader push to strengthen economic cooperation between the two allies.
