Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi criticized Vladimir Putin's unprecedented visit to the Kuril Islands, which Japan claims as its own territory, calling it 'absolutely unacceptable.' Takaichi's remarks came after Japan's repeated requests for Russia to refrain from such visits.
The Kuril Islands, strategically located between Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula and Japan's Hokkaido, have been a point of contention since the Soviet Union's annexation of the islands at the end of World War II. During his visit, Putin toured various facilities on Iturup Island, which hosts a significant military base.
Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi also expressed strong disapproval of the visit. The ongoing dispute over the islands has hindered the signing of a peace treaty between Japan and Russia since the war's conclusion.
Analysts from the Institute for the Study of War suggest that Putin's visit is a response to Japan's recent defense white paper, which identifies Russia as a critical threat, indicating that tensions may escalate as both nations navigate their military postures in the region