Now Reading: Japan condemns Putin’s visit to disputed Kuril Islands
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Japan condemns Putin’s visit to disputed Kuril Islands
Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Iturup, one of the four disputed Kuril Islands, on Thursday. Japan immediately called the visit "absolutely unacceptable" and summoned the Russian ambassador to lodge a strong protest.…
The Story in Brief
Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Iturup, one of the four disputed Kuril Islands, on Thursday. Japan immediately called the visit "absolutely unacceptable" and summoned the Russian ambassador to lodge a strong protest. Tokyo claims the islands, which it calls the Northern Territories, as its inherent territory, citing history and international law. Moscow rejects the claim, saying the islands became part of Russia after World War II.
The territorial dispute has prevented Japan and Russia from signing a formal peace treaty since 1945. The islands hold strategic military and economic value, with rich fishing grounds and mineral deposits. Bilateral ties have worsened since Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, as Japan joined Western sanctions and provided support to Kyiv. Putin's visit, his first to the islands as president, included stops at a fish-processing plant, a hospital, and a school.
The Indian Opinion
Both Moscow's dismissal of Japan's claim as 'legally void' and Tokyo's insistence on 'inherent territory' ignore the reality that the dispute has no easy resolution. The Russian narrative that World War II settled ownership clashes with Japan's historical grievance, while each side uses the islands to stoke nationalist sentiment at home. The Ukraine war has only hardened positions. The real test will be whether future Japanese governments maintain sanctions even if Russia offers a partial island return, something Moscow shows no sign of doing.
Sources (2): livemint.com, timesnownews.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above.
Updated: this story now draws on 2 sources.
