Putin's First Kuril Islands Visit Draws Strong Protest From Japan

Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to the disputed Kuril Islands has triggered a fresh diplomatic confrontation with Japan. Putin travelled to the remote island chain in Russia's Far East for the first time, prompting Tokyo to summon the Russian ambassador and formally protest the visit.

The trip comes against the backdrop of a decades-old territorial dispute between Russia and Japan. Tokyo claims four islands in the southern part of the Kuril chain, which Japan calls the Northern Territories. Russia has controlled the islands since the Soviet Union seized them in the final days of World War II.

Putin Visits Iturup During Far East Trip

Putin visited a fish-processing facility on Iturup, known as Etorofu in Japan, during his trip. Russian media reported that he was shown the facility's operations and was presented with caviar.

Iturup is one of the four islands claimed by Japan. The territory is strategically located in the Kuril chain, which stretches from Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula towards Japan's northern island of Hokkaido.

The islands are also known for their rich fishing grounds and natural resources, adding an economic dimension to their strategic importance.

Why The Kuril Islands Are Disputed

The territorial dispute dates back to the end of World War II. After the Soviet Union took control of the islands in 1945, Japan's population there was expelled. The islands are now home to around 20,000 Russian residents.

The unresolved territorial issue has remained a major obstacle in relations between Moscow and Tokyo. Russia and Japan have never formally concluded a World War II peace treaty, with the dispute over the islands being one of the key issues preventing an agreement.

Relations have become even more strained since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, after which Japan joined Western countries in imposing sanctions on Moscow.

Japan Calls Putin's Visit Unacceptable

Tokyo reacted strongly to Putin's trip. Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said the Northern Territories are an inherent part of Japan's territory, both historically and under international law.

Japan's Foreign Ministry said it had summoned the Russian ambassador to lodge a strong protest over the Russian President's visit.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi also criticised the move, saying Putin's trip was unacceptable and offensive to the sentiments of the Japanese people.

Putin Is Not The First Russian Leader To Visit The Islands

Although Russian leaders have rarely travelled to the disputed territory, Putin's visit follows an earlier precedent.

Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev became the first Russian president to visit the disputed islands in 2010. He later returned to the region in 2015 while serving as prime minister.

Putin's visit took place after his trip to nearby Sakhalin, where Russia's Pacific Fleet was conducting military exercises. The timing adds further strategic significance to his presence in the region.

Why The Kurils Matter Strategically

The Kuril Islands have long been important to Russia because of their location between the Sea of Okhotsk and the Pacific Ocean. During the Cold War, the Soviet Union maintained a substantial military presence across the island chain as tensions with the United States and Japan remained high.

The islands continue to have strategic value for Russia, particularly because of their location and access to surrounding waters.

Despite repeated negotiations since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, Moscow and Tokyo have failed to resolve the territorial dispute.

Putin's latest visit is therefore likely to add another layer of tension to an already difficult relationship between Russia and Japan.