Japan-Russia tensions rise after Putin's visit to disputed islands

Tensions between Japan and Russia have escalated following Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to Etorofu (Iturup), one of the four disputed islands in the Kuril chain. The islands, known as the Northern Territories in Japan, were seized by the Soviet Union at the end of World War II and remain a central point of contention that has prevented a formal postwar peace treaty.

During his visit, Putin toured local facilities and met with residents, a move interpreted as a public declaration of Russian sovereignty. In response, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi stated that the visit has made restoring relations in the medium- to long-term difficult. While Tokyo has lodged strong protests, the Japanese government has faced challenges in implementing more aggressive countermeasures, such as fresh sanctions, due to the need for stable energy procurement from Russia.

Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi has ruled out recalling the Japanese Ambassador to Russia as a show of hardline stance. Meanwhile, Russia has continued military activities in the region and reinforced its presence on the islands, signaling that its control is not up for negotiation.