Japan protests Putin’s visit to disputed Kuril island

12:47

By: Azzat Manal

Japan protests Putin’s visit to disputed Kuril island

Japan has formally protested Russian President Vladimir Putin’s recent visit to Iturup, one of the southern Kuril Islands claimed by Tokyo, highlighting the long-running territorial dispute between the two countries.

Japan’s Foreign Ministry described the visit as deeply unacceptable and reiterated its position that the islands it calls the “Northern Territories” are historically and legally part of Japan. Iturup is one of four southern Kuril Islands whose sovereignty remains disputed between Tokyo and Moscow.

Putin visited Iturup during a broader trip to Russia’s Sakhalin region in the Far East. The visit marked another high-profile demonstration of Russian control over the islands and was closely watched by Japanese authorities.

The territorial dispute dates back decades and remains one of the main obstacles to the conclusion of a formal peace treaty between Japan and Russia following World War II.

Russian leaders have previously visited the Kuril Islands. Dmitry Medvedev traveled to the region several times, including during his presidency in 2010 and later as prime minister. In 2021, then-Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin also visited Iturup.

The disagreement intensified after the Soviet Union took control of the southern Kuril Islands at the end of World War II. Japan maintains that the four disputed islands should be returned, while Russia considers its sovereignty over the territory established and no longer subject to negotiation.

Tokyo has linked the territorial issue to its efforts to establish a lasting peace agreement with Moscow. The two countries signed a joint declaration in 1956 that restored diplomatic relations and formally ended the state of war, but a comprehensive peace treaty has never been concluded.

Japan bases its territorial claims partly on the 1855 Treaty of Commerce, Navigation and Delimitation between the two countries. Moscow, meanwhile, argues that the postwar territorial settlement confirmed Russian sovereignty over the islands.

The dispute has become even more complicated in recent years as relations between Japan and Russia have deteriorated over Russia’s broader foreign policy and Japan’s alignment with Western sanctions.

Putin’s visit therefore carries both symbolic and political significance. For Moscow, the presence of the Russian president reinforces its administration of the islands, while Tokyo views such visits as a challenge to its long-standing territorial position.

The latest protest underscores that the Kuril Islands issue remains unresolved and continues to influence diplomatic relations between Japan and Russia.