Putin’s Visit to Disputed Island Exacerbates Japan-Russia Tensions

On August 13, Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Iturup Island, known as Etorofu in Japan. The island is part of the disputed Southern Kurils, which Russia claims as the Northern Territories, while Japan also lays claim to them. The Kuril Islands continue to be a contentious issue between Japan and Russia, contributing to strained relations. These islands have never been a subject of a peace treaty ending World War II. Japan has sought economic cooperation with Russia to normalize relations and resolve this dispute.

This visit exacerbates tensions between the two nations, especially given the current unfavorable circumstances. Since 2022, Japan has been condemning Russia's invasion of Ukraine and imposing sanctions on Russia. Russia, in turn, suspended peace treaty negotiations and canceled visa-free travel for Japanese nationals to visit the disputed islands. This is the first time that Putin has visited the islands, following a 2010 visit by then-President Dmitry Medvedev.

Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida expressed strong disapproval of Putin's visit, stating that it "hurts the feelings of the Japanese people and is absolutely unacceptable." She warned that this action has hardened public sentiment in Japan toward Russia, making it difficult to improve relations in the medium to long term. Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister, Mikhail Galuzin, summoned Japan's ambassador in Moscow to lodge a formal protest over Kishida's "anti-Russia" statements.

He emphasized Russia's sovereignty and jurisdiction over the Southern Kuril Islands, deeming such attempts to question this reality as "categorically unacceptable and illegitimate."

There are various factors behind Putin's decision to visit the Northern Territories. In the long term, Japan's response to the visit may rally Russia and other nations against Japan's "aggressive" response. Medium-term, Japan's energy vulnerability due to the Iran war may limit Tokyo's ability to respond significantly. In the short term, Putin timed his visit to coincide with the 81st anniversary of Japan's surrender in World War II, ensuring maximum media coverage and heightened sensitivity to historical injustices.

Japan must carefully consider its response to Putin's visit. In the short term, the response will depend on Russia's next steps, and Japan must remain flexible. In the medium term, strengthening ties with European countries facing the Russian threat could be beneficial. In the long term, Japan should prioritize developing renewable energy sources to reduce its reliance on Russian energy imports, given the current geopolitical situation.