Japan protests Putin’s first visit to disputed islands

MOSCOW: President Vladimir Putin embarked on his first visit to Russia's disputed Kuril islands on Thursday, sparking a strong protest from Japan which also asserts territorial claims over the islands. The Kremlin released a video showing Putin at one of the Kuril's four main islands, where he toured a fish-processing plant and received caviar.

Prior to his Kuril visit, Putin had convened on Sakhalin, where Russia conducted naval drills. Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi expressed Japan's firm stance, stating that the disputed islands are an integral part of Japan's territory, both historically and under international law, and vehemently protested Putin's visit. Relations between Russia and Japan have been strained since the onset of the Ukraine conflict in 2022, with Japan aligning with G7 nations in sanctioning Russia, offering financial and non-lethal defense aid to Ukraine.

Putin dismissed Japan's sanctions as "unprovoked." In a broader context, Japan has identified Russia as a significant threat. Moreover, close ties have arisen between Russia and China, as their navies and air forces engaged in joint exercises near Japan, prompting Japanese jets to scramble repeatedly. North Korea, which recently accused Japan of transforming into a "war state," has also extended support to Russia by providing troops and artillery.

Japan's latest defense white paper emphasized the escalating risks from all three nations. The New York Times reported earlier this year that Russia has labeled Japan as a "den of spies" and a crucial source of dual-use technology vital for its war efforts in Ukraine. The Soviet Union seized the strategically located volcanic archipelago north of Hokkaido at the war's end in 1945, maintaining a military presence ever since.

In 2010, then-President Dmitry Medvedev made history as the first Russian leader to visit the disputed territory.