Japan protests as Putin visits occupied Northern Territories

Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Japan’s Northern Territories for the first time Thursday, prompting a formal protest from Tokyo over Russia’s continued occupation of the islands.

Putin toured Etorofu, the largest of the four southernmost islands in the chain, visiting a fish-processing plant, a hospital and a school, according to Russian state media. He also met briefly with local residents and with Valery Limarenko, governor of Russia’s Sakhalin region, the administrative unit Moscow has used to govern the occupied territory.

Japan’s Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi summoned Russian Ambassador Nikolay Nozdrev over the visit. Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi called Putin’s trip “absolutely unacceptable.”

“The Northern Territories are an inherent part of Japan’s territory both historically and under international law, and the government of Japan strongly protests this visit,” said Motegi.

Takaichi separately told reporters the visit “offends the sentiments of the Japanese people” and said it “made it more difficult to restore relations in the medium to long term,” according to the Moscow Times.

The Northern Territories consist of Etorofu, Kunashiri, Shikotan and the Habomai group. The Soviet Union seized the islands from Japan in the closing days of World War II, after declaring war on Japan on August 8, 1945, less than a week before Tokyo’s surrender, and has occupied them ever since. Japan has never recognized Russian sovereignty over the territory, and the unresolved dispute has prevented the two countries from signing a formal peace treaty ending their World War II hostilities, more than eight decades after the fighting ended.

Putin traveled to the Northern Territories after visiting Sakhalin on Wednesday, where Russia’s navy was conducting military drills. State-run RIA Novosti said Putin held a meeting on Sakhalin focused on “ensuring the security of Russia’s eastern borders.” Russia’s Defense Ministry said the exercises involve dozens of warships and aircraft along with more than 13,000 servicemen, according to the Moscow Times.

Putin addressed Japan’s security posture directly during the visit.

“Japan has identified Russia as a main source of threats. I would like to point out that we are not threatening Japan. On the contrary, it has territorial claims against our country,” said Putin.

Thursday’s visit marks the first time a sitting Russian president has traveled to the occupied territory. Dmitry Medvedev became the first Russian leader to visit in 2010, first as president and later on subsequent trips as prime minister. Japan also lodged a protest in 2021 when then-Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin visited Etorofu.

Relations between Moscow and Tokyo have deteriorated further since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, even as Russia’s ties with China and North Korea have strengthened. Tokyo said Russia introduced restrictions on sea navigation for foreign military and civilian ships around the occupied islands beginning April 16, according to the Moscow Times, though the report did not specify when those restrictions were lifted or whether they remain in effect.

Decades of diplomatic efforts between the two countries to resolve the dispute have not produced a settlement, and Moscow has steadily expanded its military presence on the occupied islands in recent years.