On Thursday, D. Medvedev threatened Japan with serious consequences over Tokyo’s position on the disputed Southern Kuril Islands issue.
His sharp rhetoric was provoked by a diplomatic conflict over the recent visit of V. Putin to the disputed archipelago, which separates the Sea of Okhotsk from the Pacific Ocean and serves as a strategic buffer for Russia’s nuclear submarine bases in the Far East.
Tokyo officially protested V. Putin’s trip to the islands, and the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned Russian Ambassador Nikolai Nozdrev.
V. Putin’s visit “offends the feelings of the Japanese people and is completely unacceptable,” emphasized Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, adding that it “complicates the restoration of relations in the medium and long term.”
“This (…) visit contradicts Japan’s consistent position on the Northern Territories,” said S. Takaichi.
In response to such Japanese actions, D. Medvedev criticized the Japanese Prime Minister on the social network “X,” warning that Tokyo’s claims to this territory will have “catastrophic consequences.”
“Prime Minister Takaichi can talk as much as she wants about the Kuril Islands being historically Japanese, but this chatter will change nothing,” stated D. Medvedev.
“They were, are, and will be Russian land. Those who do not understand this will face the terrible consequences of their illusion,” threatened the notorious politician.
The Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs maintained a firm position, stating that the southern islands – Iturup, Kunashir, Shikotan, and the Habomai islets – are “historically and under international law an inseparable part of our country’s territory.”
Preparing a response
Tokyo plans to consider retaliatory measures over V. Putin’s visit to Iturup Island, according to the publication NNK.
Tokyo believes that one possible retaliatory measure could be tightening sanctions on Russia. The publication recalled that Japan, together with international partners, has already imposed restrictions on Moscow due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
What Putin was doing there
In the latest report, analysts from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) shared the assessment that the Kremlin leader’s trip to the disputed islands is likely a Kremlin response to Japan’s 2026 defense strategy, called the “White Paper.”
This document was published in early August, and V. Putin’s move may be aimed at undermining Prime Minister S. Takaichi’s efforts to strengthen the country’s defense capabilities.
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V. Putin criticized the “White Paper” for naming Russia as one of the greatest threats to Japan.
In his comments, the Kremlin leader explained that it is necessary to “ensure security” “at all its borders, in all its territories.” And the “White Paper” specifically talks about frequent Russian air operations, which require Japan to regularly scramble its aircraft.
Dispute over the Kuril Islands
As the news portal “The Moscow Times” writes, Prime Minister S. Takaichi emphasized that V. Putin’s visit “will inevitably strengthen anti-Russian sentiments in Japanese society and complicate the restoration of relations” between the two countries.
This territorial dispute dates back to the end of World War II, when in September 1945 Soviet forces occupied the entire Kuril archipelago. Later, these territories were annexed to the Soviet Union, and the entire Japanese population was deported.
Tokyo has consistently regarded Soviet and later Russian control of the islands as illegal occupation.
“The Moscow Times” recalled that despite more than 25 meetings between V. Putin and former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe until 2020, both countries failed to resolve this issue.
Relations between the countries completely collapsed after Russia launched a large-scale invasion of Ukraine. In March 2022, Moscow abruptly withdrew from peace treaty negotiations when Japan joined international sanctions against Russia. Later, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs banned former Japanese residents from visiting the islands without a visa.
In April 2022, Tokyo officially declared the Southern Kuril Islands “illegally occupied territories” for the first time in nearly two decades.
Took Japan’s side
The United States recognizes Japan’s sovereignty over the islands visited by Russian President V. Putin, the US Ambassador to Tokyo said on Friday.
“The United States remains steadfast in supporting its key ally and recognizing Japan’s sovereignty over the Northern Territories,” George Glass wrote on the social network “X,” using the Japanese name for the Kuril Islands, which V. Putin visited for the first time on Thursday.
“At a time when the US-Japan alliance is committed to promoting prosperity throughout the Indo-Pacific region, we strongly oppose any actions that undermine its peace and stability,” added G. Glass.
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