Japan protests Putin’s first visit to disputed islands

On Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin paid his first visit to the disputed Kuril islands, triggering protests from Japan. Known as the Northern Territories in Japan, these islands were seized by the Soviet Union in 1945 after the end of World War II. Putin toured one of the four main islands, visiting a fish-processing plant and receiving caviar, according to Russian media.

This marks the first visit by a Russian president since Dmitry Medvedev in 2010. Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi denounced the visit, stating that the islands are an inherent part of Japan's territory, both historically and under international law. She added that the visit "offends the sentiments of the Japanese people" and negatively impacts medium to long-term relations.

Putin had visited the nearby island of Sakhalin the previous day, where he held a meeting on ensuring the security of Russia's eastern borders. Japan's Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi summoned the Russian ambassador to lodge a strong protest against the visit, emphasizing that it will have a "extremely negative impact" on Japan-Russia relations.

Tensions between the two nations have been high since the start of Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, with Japan joining other G7 countries in imposing sanctions on Russia and providing aid to Ukraine. Putin has called Japan's sanctions "unprovoked" and claims territorial disputes against Japan. Russia's relationship with both China and North Korea has also strengthened, with military exercises conducted in the region, increasing the risk of conflict.

The islands, while sparsely populated, have strategic value due to their mineral resources and potential as air and sea bases, according to Yee Kuang Heng, a professor at the University of Tokyo.