The United States confirmed its support for Japan’s sovereignty over four islands controlled by Russia after Vladimir Putin became the first Russian president in 15 years to visit the disputed territory. The visit prompted Tokyo to summon the Russian ambassador and call the trip “completely unacceptable”.
US Ambassador to Tokyo George Glass stated that Washington remains “unwavering” in recognizing Japanese sovereignty over the Northern Territories. Putin’s visit to the four islands, seized by the Soviet Union in 1945, also prompted Japan to summon the Russian ambassador and consider strengthening sanctions against Russia.
Glass wrote on social media X that “The United States remains steadfast in its support for our most important ally and in recognizing Japanese sovereignty over the Northern Territories”. He added: “At a time when the US-Japan alliance seeks to promote prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region, we strongly oppose any actions that undermine its peace and stability”.
Historical context of the dispute
Russian-Japanese relations have long been strained by the dispute over the four southernmost islands of the volcanic chain off the coast of Hokkaido. The Soviet Union seized them after the invasion in August 1945, in the final days of World War II. Moscow abandoned its formal neutrality towards Japan just days before the invasion began.
The Japanese government insists that the four islands and groups of islets that make up the Northern Territories — Etorofu, Kunashiri, Shikotan, and Habomai — are part of its territory illegally occupied by the USSR and continued to be controlled by Russia since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. The dispute prevents the two countries from signing a peace treaty that would formally end the state of war between them, although it was suspended as early as 1956.
Strengthening of Russia’s military presence
In December 2021, Moscow strengthened its military presence on the islands by deploying coastal missile systems “Bastion” on an uninhabited volcanic island in the central part of the chain. Before the Soviet occupation, this island housed a Japanese military base, and the Soviet base was closed due to lack of funding after the collapse of the Soviet Union.
Earlier, in 2016, Moscow deployed missile systems “Bal” and “Bastion” on two of the four southernmost islands. In subsequent years, Russia continued to build up military potential on the islands, deploying modern anti-aircraft missile systems, establishing an airbase on the island of Etorofu, and stationing fighter jets.
The sparsely populated islands are of strategic importance to the Kremlin as they are located at the entrance to the Sea of Okhotsk and provide the Russian Pacific Fleet with access to the open Pacific Ocean without the need to pass through waters controlled by Japan. Vladimir Putin’s visit was the first visit by a Russian president to these islands since Dmitry Medvedev in 2010.
Source: Euronews
