Late last month I flew from Washington, across Europe, Turkey and Iran to the Strait of Hormuz and beyond.

After three days in Muscat, the capital of Oman and a crucial mediator in Middle East disputes, I flew on to Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, very far, both geographically and culturally, from the Pacific, where I spend most of my time, yet no doubt crucial to the future of Japan in world affairs.

Since the oil shocks of the 1970s, Riyadh has become a common destination for Japanese prime ministers, despite its distant location, with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe himself having visited twice.