Historic Visit to Disputed Iturup Island Signals Deepening Rift
Russian President Vladimir Putin made a historic and unexpected visit to Iturup, one of the four southern Kuril Islands, marking his first personal trip to the contested archipelago. The visit comes at a time when relations between Moscow and Tokyo have hit an all-time low following Japan’s steadfast support for Ukraine and its imposition of stringent economic sanctions against Russia. During his trip, Putin inspected local infrastructure, including a fish-processing complex and a local hospital, while interacting with local residents and regional officials. The visit follows large-scale naval drills conducted by Russia’s Pacific Fleet in the Far Eastern region, underscoring Moscow’s firm military and administrative control over the territory.
Tokyo Reacts with Fury over ‘Unacceptable’ Russian Action
The Japanese government reacted with outrage to Putin’s visit. Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi condemned the move, calling it “absolutely unacceptable” and stating that the southern Kuril Islands—referred to in Japan as the Northern Territories—remain an inherent part of Japanese territory both historically and under international law. Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi summoned the Russian Ambassador to Tokyo, Nikolai Nozdrev, lodging a formal and strong protest. Tokyo emphasized that Putin’s actions severely damage the prospects of restoring bilateral diplomacy or resolving the decades-long sovereignty dispute in the medium to long term.
Historical Roots of the Kuril Islands Dispute and World War II Legacy
The territorial dispute over the four islands—Iturup (Etorofu), Kunashir (Kunashiri), Shikotan, and the Habomai islets—dates back to August 1945. In the closing weeks of World War II, Soviet forces occupied the islands following a declaration of war against Japan. Approximately 17,000 Japanese inhabitants were subsequently expelled from the archipelago. Because of this territorial deadlock, Russia and Japan have never formally signed a peace treaty ending World War II hostilities. While previous diplomatic efforts, including those under former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, aimed at joint economic activities and eventual treaty negotiations, the conflict in Ukraine has effectively halted all peace talks.
Geopolitical Fallout as Moscow Tightens Ties with Regional Allies
Putin’s trip to the Kurils is widely interpreted by foreign policy analysts as a calculated geopolitical statement aimed at penalizing Tokyo for its pro-Western stance. In public remarks during his Far Eastern tour, Putin accused Japan of levying “unprovoked” sanctions and viewing Russia as a primary security threat. As Japan aligns more closely with G7 nations, Russia has responded by expanding joint military drills with China and bolstering security ties with North Korea. With naval and air force maneuvers intensifying around the Sea of Japan, Putin’s visit signals that Moscow will not make territorial concessions to nations taking hostile measures against it.
