Russian President Vladimir Putin made his first visit to the Kuril Islands archipelago today in his 27 years in power, landing on the contested territory that stretches from Japan's northern tip to Russia's southeastern coast. The island chain has been at the center of a long-running territorial dispute between the two nations, and Putin's decision to visit marks a significant escalation in tensions. Japan has maintained claims to the southern portion of the archipelago, which Russia has controlled since the final days of World War II.
Russia-Japan Tensions
Putin Visit to Kuril Islands Angers Japan
Russian president's first trip to contested archipelago in 27 years reignites territorial dispute dating back to World War II
The territorial dispute over the Kuril Islands has deep historical roots. Japan held the islands or claimed direct ownership dating back to at least 1644, when Japanese tribes conquered them from the indigenous Ainu people.
For over 300 years, Japan controlled most of the southern islands until the Soviet Union seized the archipelago in the closing stages of World War II, as part of its offensive operations against Japan that ran parallel to American attacks.
Japan has never accepted Russian sovereignty over the islands and continues to claim ownership of the southern half of the chain to this day.
The issue has been a sensitive one that Putin had avoided addressing throughout his presidency, but he has now chosen to change course—possibly to divert attention from reports published in recent days about territorial losses to Ukraine.
After Putin landed earlier on Iturup Island, Japan's Prime Minister expressed outrage over Putin's arrival: "I express strong protest against President Putin's visit today to Iturup Island. The Northern Territories are fundamentally Japanese territory both historically and under international law, and this visit by the sitting Russian president to Iturup Island does not align with Japan's consistent position on the Northern Territories. Moreover, it hurts the feelings of the Japanese people and is unacceptable in any way, shape or form."
Putin himself was unmoved by the Prime Minister's remarks, responding: "We are not threatening Japan. We have no claims against it. On the contrary, Japan is the one threatening. Japan has territorial claims against our country. I'm referring to the problem of the Kuril Islands."
Japan summoned the Russian ambassador for a reprimand meeting in which officials expressed considerable anger over the move, but Russian Foreign Minister Dmitry Medvedev responded with contempt and even threats, stating: "The Kuril Islands are, were, and will be Russian territory." He added that anyone who does not accept the islands' permanent belonging to Russia will face "serious consequences."
