Russia has summoned Japanese Ambassador Akira Muto following Tokyo’s strong criticism of President Vladimir Putin’s recent visit to the disputed Kuril Islands, further straining already tense relations between Moscow and Tokyo.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Japan had no grounds to object to Putin’s visit to the islands, which are controlled by Russia but also claimed by Japan. The Russian Foreign Ministry formally conveyed its protest to Ambassador Muto on Tuesday. Moscow rejected Japan’s position on the islands and defended Russia’s sovereignty over the territory.
Editorial Insight
Key Highlights
Important points readers should notice.
Russia summoned Japanese Ambassador Akira Muto in Moscow. The move followed Tokyo’s protest over Putin’s Kuril Islands visit.
Putin visited Iturup on August 13.
Japan calls the disputed islands its Northern Territories.
Moscow rejects Japan’s territorial claim and maintains Russian sovereignty.
The dispute has remained unresolved since the end of World War II.
The diplomatic confrontation followed Putin’s visit to Iturup, known as Etorofu in Japan, on August 13. It was Putin’s first visit to the disputed island chain and included meetings with local officials and visits to local facilities. Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi strongly criticised the visit, saying it was “absolutely unacceptable” and that it hurt the sentiments of the Japanese people. Tokyo maintains that the four southernmost islands of the Kuril chain are part of Japan’s Northern Territories.
The latest diplomatic exchange comes against the backdrop of deteriorating Russia-Japan relations following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Japan has imposed sanctions on Moscow, while Russia has taken countermeasures and suspended several areas of bilateral cooperation.
Editorial Analysis
Why This Matters
The latest diplomatic clash shows how quickly the long-running territorial dispute can affect Russia-Japan relations. The dispute is also strategically important because the Kuril Islands provide Russia with access to the Pacific and have significant military and economic value.
