Putin’s Disputed Islands Visit Sparks Anger in Tokyo

Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Iturup in the Kuril Islands on August 13, marking his first visit to the disputed Pacific island chain. Russia controls the islands, while Japan claims the four southernmost islands and calls them the Northern Territories. The visit quickly drew a strong diplomatic protest from Tokyo. It also came as Russia-Japan relations remain strained over the war in Ukraine.

The territorial dispute dates back to the final days of World War II, when the Soviet Union took control of the four southern islands from Japan. Since then, the disagreement has remained a major obstacle to a formal Russia-Japan peace treaty. Japan continues to assert sovereignty over the islands, while Russia maintains control over them. As a result, Putin’s visit has brought the long-running territorial dispute back into focus and added fresh tension to already difficult relations between Moscow and Tokyo.

Why the Kuril Islands Matter Strategically

The Kuril Islands stretch between Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula and Japan’s Hokkaido. This volcanic chain holds a strategically vital position in the Pacific.It also has rich fishing grounds and valuable mineral resources. The four southern islands are Iturup, Kunashir, Shikotan and Habomai. Japan calls them the Northern Territories and claims full sovereignty over them. The Soviet Union seized the islands from Japan in 1945, at the close of World War II. Since then, the territorial dispute has remained unresolved despite decades of negotiation. A 1956 joint declaration restored diplomatic ties between Moscow and Tokyo. It also outlined a path toward eventual peace. However, the two sides never reached a final territorial settlement, and the islands still lack a signed peace treaty today.

Russia has steadily strengthened its military presence across the archipelago. Its forces have deployed coastal defence missiles and advanced fighter aircraft there.This military buildup strengthens Moscow’s strategic position around key sea lanes near Japan. The islands therefore carry both economic and military weight for Russia and Japan alike. Around 20,000 people currently live across the disputed territory. In addition, the dispute has grown more sensitive since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Japan’s sanctions on Moscow have further strained an already fragile relationship. Russia and China have also expanded military cooperation near Japanese waters, and their forces have conducted joint naval and air exercises in the region. North Korea has separately deepened its military ties with Russia. Tokyo now views all three nations as a combined and growing security concern, one that stretches far beyond the Kuril Islands themselves.

Tokyo Protests as Moscow Reaffirms Control Over the Kurils

Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has called Putin’s visit “absolutely unacceptable.” She said the trip has hurt the feelings of the Japanese people. Takaichi also warned that the move could make efforts to improve Russia-Japan relations more difficult. Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi then summoned Russia’s ambassador and lodged a formal protest. He said the disputed islands remain an inherent part of Japanese territory, based on Japan’s historical claims and its interpretation of international law.

Moscow has rejected Tokyo’s objections and reaffirmed its sovereignty over the Kuril Islands. Russia’s embassy in Japan has described the islands as an integral part of the Russian Federation and said their status cannot be questioned. Moscow has also rejected the idea that Putin’s visit requires approval from another country. Putin has defended Russia’s position by pointing to international agreements that followed World War II. However, Japan continues to reject Moscow’s territorial claim and maintains that the southern Kuril Islands belong to Japan. Putin’s visit has therefore revived a dispute that has remained unresolved for decades, while further complicating already strained ties between Moscow and Tokyo.

Web Resources on Putin’s Disputed Islands Visit

1. The Guardian : ‘Absolutely unacceptable’, Japan condemns visit by Vladimir Putin to disputed Kuril Islands
2. Reuters : Putin visits disputed island near Japan, drawing Tokyo’s ire
3. BBC : Japan PM Takaichi says Putin’s visit to disputed Kuril islands ‘absolutely unacceptable’
4. NDTV : Japan Protests Putin’s First Visit To Disputed Islands