Vladimir Putin Visits Disputed Kuril Islands, Prompting Japan Protests

Vladimir Putin Visits Iturup Island Amid Regional Naval Exercises

Russian President Vladimir Putin traveled to the island of Iturup, known as Etorofu in Japan, which is part of the disputed Kuril Islands situated off the northern tip of Japan. The visit marked the first time Vladimir Putin has visited the disputed territory since taking power in the year 2000. During the trip, which took place in the framework of his attendance at Russian Navy maneuvers in Pacific waters, Putin toured a school, a hospital, and industrial facilities on the island. Images transmitted by Russian state media showed the Russian leader tasting caviar during the visit.

The journey took place just two days before the 81st anniversary of the official surrender of Japan, which brought an end to World War II on August 15, 1945. The Kuril Islands were occupied by Soviet troops two weeks after Japan’s surrender. Over the following year, all more than 17,000 Japanese inhabitants were forced to leave the islands. A reporter for the state-run channel Rossiya 1 asserted during the coverage that Vladimir Putin, in a definitive manner, puts an end to the dispute.

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The Japanese government responded swiftly to the itinerary. Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi stated in a social media publication that the visit was absolutely unacceptable, adding that the act has worsened Japanese sentiment toward Russia and that it is incompatible with Japan’s stance on the islands. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi further asserted that according to international law, the islands are inherently Japanese territory both historically and juridically.

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In response to the travel, the Japanese Foreign Ministry summoned the Russian ambassador to Tokyo, Nikolai Nozdriev, to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs headquarters, where he was asked to immediately transmit the complaint to the Kremlin. Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi stated that the visit is extremely regrettable, noting that it not only repercusses in an extremely negative manner on bilateral relations, but also hurts the feelings of the Japanese people. Toshimitsu Motegi maintained that the Northern Territories—consisting of the four islands of Kunashiri, Etorofu, Shikotan, and Habomai—are an inherent part of Japanese territory.

In direct opposition to the Japanese claims, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia affirmed that the islands are an integral part of Russia. The Kuril Islands are located between Hokkaido, in northern Japan, and the Russian Kamchatka Peninsula, and are currently controlled by Russia. Russia regards the islands as a strategic zone and has reinforced its military presence there over the past decade, with Iturup housing its main military air base in the region. Vladimir Putin took advantage of his presence during the naval maneuvers in the Pacific to denounce the growing presence of NATO in the region, asserting that the deployment of new armaments by the Atlantic Alliance poses a threat to the security of the Russian Federation, which led Moscow to reinforce its military presence in the Kurils.

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Academic analysts suggest the timing of the visit carries deliberate strategic messaging. James Brown, a professor of International Relations specializing in Russian affairs at the Tokyo campus of Temple University, stated that this was clearly a message for Japan. James Brown noted to DW that Russia is upset by Japan’s support for Ukraine and by the closer ties that Tokyo has been establishing with European members of NATO, indicating a clear desire to punish Japan. James Brown also noted that there is an internal component, as a visit like this can generate patriotic support among Russians of all political stripes.

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Successive Japanese governments have consistently maintained that the islands were illegally annexed. The long-standing territorial dispute has so severely affected bilateral relations that both countries have yet to sign a formal peace treaty. Toshimitsu Shigemura, a professor of Political Science, warned that Japan faces difficulties in imposing additional sanctions due to its dependence on Russian energy, and considers that Putin could be attempting to weaken Prime Minister Takaichi. Diplomatic efforts saw little progress over the decades, continuing a stalemate that persisted past the collapse of the Soviet Union and previous diplomatic attempts by former leaders such as former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, with Moscow maintaining its stance even after modifying its Constitution in 2020 to prohibit the cession of territory, while relations deteriorated further following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.