President Trump will press Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi for military support in the Strait of Hormuz during her first White House visit this week. The request comes as the Middle East conflict enters its third week, with Trump demanding Japan dispatch minesweepers and maritime forces to help secure vital oil shipping lanes.

Takaichi faces a delicate balancing act between supporting her close ally and managing overwhelming domestic opposition. Only 9 percent of Japanese support the U.S.-Israeli attack on Iran, according to a recent Asahi Shimbun poll. Japan's pacifist constitution and public sentiment create significant constraints on any military deployment, despite the country's heavy reliance on Middle Eastern oil.

The stakes are high for both nations. Japan imports about 95 percent of its oil from the Middle East, making the Strait of Hormuz critical to its economy. Meanwhile, Trump has suggested Japan owes the U.S. for years of defense aid and must act given its energy dependence. Analysts say Takaichi must signal support for Trump without entangling Japan in the war, a challenge that could test the leaders' recently forged friendship.