Japan is to provide patrol ships that will allow Djibouti to improve its maritime security.
The announcement came during the Japanese prime minister’s visit to the Horn of Africa nation on August 27.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was taken by Djibouti’s Prime Minister Ismail Omar Guelleh to the operating base of Maritime Self-Defence Force personnel stationed in the country to fight piracy, built on the northern side of Djibouti-Ambouli International Airport in 2011.
“It is vital for Japan to protect waters in the region. And it is essential for the international community to ensure peace, stability and prosperity,” Abe told MSDF personnel as he stressed the importance of Japan’s contribution to maritime security.
Abe also said Japan will provide support to Djibouti to develop geothermal power generation and secure stable electricity supplies.
The provision of patrol ships to Djibouti would help commercial vessels and tankers to pass through the area smoothly, as Tokyo aims to ensure the security of sea lanes that are vital to transporting crude oil and natural resources.
Abe has a strong interest in maritime security. In July, he unveiled a plan to provide 10 patrol ships to the Philippines, which is involved in a territorial dispute with China in the South China Sea.
The Japanese prime minister is on a six-day trip to oil-producing nations in the Middle East and Djibouti.
