In brief
Japan’s foreign minister Toshimitsu Motegi issued a stern protest over Russian President Vladimir Putin’s trip to Iturup, one of the Kuril Islands claimed by both nations. The visit, deemed a violation of Japan’s territorial integrity, comes as the two countries still vie for control over the Northern Territories. Russia has administered the islands since the end of World War II, and the Russian military’s strategic presence there has been a point of contention. Experts say the dispute remains unresolved due to differing interpretations of post‑war treaties. The incident underscores persistent regional tensions in the Asia‑Pacific.
Japan’s foreign minister Toshimitsu Motegi has stated that the islands, including the one visited by Putin, are “inherently Japanese territory both historically and under international law, and the Government of Japan strongly protests this visit.”
The Kuril Islands, which lie between northern Japan’s Hokkaido and Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula, consist of four southernmost islands that Japan calls the Northern Territories. Russia, which has administered them since the end of World War II, annexed the chain and forced the departure of around 17,000 Japanese residents.
During the official visit, Putin sampled local fish roe and interacted with island residents, a move that Russia’s state media said highlighted his appreciation of the region’s culture. However, the presence of Russian military installations—particularly the primary air base on Iturup—has amplified the strategic significance of the islands.
Last month, a joint Chinese‑Russian naval patrol sailed through the archipelago’s straits, and Russian military drills near the islands the previous year ignited condemnation from Tokyo. The unresolved dispute remains a key factor preventing a formal peace treaty between Moscow and Tokyo post‑World War II.
