Japan has issued a strong protest against the visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin to the disputed Kuril Islands, according to Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi.
Russian state media reported that President Putin visited Iturup, which Japan calls Etorofu, one of the four southernmost islands claimed by both Russia and Japan.
The foreign minister said the islands are “inherently Japanese territory both historically and under international law” and that Japan’s government “strongly protests” the visit.
The dispute dates back to the end of World War II when the Soviet Union captured the islands and deported around 17,000 Japanese residents, preventing the signing of a peace treaty between Moscow and Tokyo.
During his visit, President Putin sampled fish roe and talked with local residents, according to state media. Iturup is also a key military base for Russian forces in the region.
Last month, Chinese and Russian naval warships conducted a joint patrol through the Kuril strait, and Russia held military drills near the islands last year, drawing condemnation from Japan.
This episode underscores a broader strategic rivalry in East Asia, where territorial claims and military presence remain central points of tension between the two nations.
