US backs Japan's sovereignty over Russian-held islands after Putin visit
The United States reaffirmed support for Japan's sovereignty over the four islands controlled by Russia after Vladimir Putin became the first Russian president in 15 years to visit the disputed territory. Japan summoned Russia's ambassador and called the visit "absolutely unacceptable."
The US ambassador to Japan, George Glass, said on X that Washington remains unwavering in its recognition of Japanese sovereignty over the Northern Territories. He stressed that the US-Japan alliance is dedicated to cultivating prosperity across the Indo-Pacific and strongly opposes any action that undermines peace and stability. The statement followed Putin's trip to the islands, which are at the center of a decades-old territorial dispute.
The four southernmost islands in a volcanic chain off Hokkaido were seized by the Soviet Union in August 1945, days after Moscow broke its neutrality pact with Japan at the end of World War II. Japan maintains that Etorofu, Kunashiri, Shikotan and Habomai are its inherent territory and that the Soviet occupation was illegal, with Russia continuing the occupation after the USSR's collapse. The dispute has prevented the two countries from signing a peace treaty formally ending hostilities; the state of war ended in 1956.
Russia has reinforced its military presence on the islands. In December 2021, it deployed Bastion coastal defense missile systems on an uninhabited island in the middle of the chain. Earlier, in 2016, Bal and Bastion systems were placed on two of the four main islands. Moscow later added air defense systems, built an air base on Etorofu and deployed fighter jets. The islands are strategically significant because they sit at the entrance to the Sea of Okhotsk, giving Russia's Pacific Fleet access to the open Pacific without passing through Japanese-controlled waters.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said the Northern Territories are an inherent part of Japan both historically and under international law, and that Putin's visit offends the sentiments of the Japanese people and is absolutely unacceptable. Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi strongly protested the visit to the largest island, Etorofu, summoned Russian Ambassador Nikolay Nozdrev and demanded that the protest be promptly relayed to Moscow. Russia's embassy said the ambassador reiterated that the islands are Russian territory and that the visit is not a matter for discussion with foreign states. Kremlin state media showed Putin visiting a fish-processing plant and tasting local caviar.
Takaichi also said the visit further strains ties already damaged over Ukraine. Japan imposed sanctions on Russia after the February 2022 invasion, introduced export controls on military-use technology and provided financial support to Ukraine. Russia responded by designating Japan an "unfriendly state." Tokyo is now considering strengthening sanctions in response to the visit. Takaichi said the trip has hardened Japanese public sentiment and made restoring bilateral relations more difficult in the medium to long term.
