Putin’s First Trip to Disputed Islands Sparks Japan Protest
Vladimir Putin made his first-ever visit to the disputed Kuril Islands on Thursday, triggering an immediate formal protest from Japan, which claims the same territory. Tokyo summoned Russia’s ambassador and called the trip “absolutely unacceptable.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin visited the Kuril Islands on Thursday for the first time, touring a fish-processing plant, a hospital, and a school on Iturup, one of the chain’s southernmost islands [218652]. The islands, known as the Northern Territories in Japan, have been a point of contention since the Soviet Union seized them from Japan in 1945 at the end of World War II [217896][218652]. Japan asserts sovereignty over the southernmost islands, while Russia has maintained control of them [218652].
Tokyo lodged a formal complaint with Russia’s ambassador, calling the visit “extremely regrettable” and “absolutely unacceptable” [218572][218110]. Japan’s Prime Minister stated that the islands “are an inherent part of Japan’s territory,” and the government summoned Russia’s ambassador in response to the move [218110]. The dispute has prevented the two countries from signing a formal peace treaty since World War II [218572][218595].
Putin’s visit marks a rare, direct show of Russian control over the chain, which lies northeast of Japan’s Hokkaido island [218572]. Moscow insists the islands are Russian soil and has stepped up military and economic activity there in recent years [218572]. The visit came after Putin observed Russian navy exercises off Sakhalin Island, signaling Moscow’s intent to keep control of the islands [218595]. Japan says the islands were seized illegally, while Russia says the transfer was legal under post-war agreements [218595].
The trip is expected to further strain already tense bilateral relations between the two nations [218031].