Japan protests Putin’s visit to disputed Kuril Islands, escalating tensions

Sun Sep 06 2026 03:44:35 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Japan issues a strong protest after Russian President Vladimir Putin visits the contested Kuril Islands, highlighting the long‑standing territorial dispute.

Japan has issued a strong protest following Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to Iturup, one of the Kuril islands also claimed by Japan. The islands, known to the Japanese as the Northern Territories, have been at the heart of a prolonged territorial dispute that prevented a peace treaty after World War II. The visit, which included a sampling of local fish roe, underscores the islands’ strategic importance to Russia as a military air base. Japan reiterates that the islands are Japanese territory both historically and under international law, condemning the visit as an infringement. The incident adds to regional tensions, especially as Russian and Chinese naval forces have recently patrolled near the islands.

Japan has strongly protested the visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin to Iturup, one of the disputed Kuril Islands that Japan also claims.

The islands, known in Japan as the Northern Territories, have been the centre of a long‑standing dispute that halted a peace treaty between Moscow and Tokyo after World War Two.

During his visit on Thursday, Putin sampled local fish roe and spoke with island residents, according to Russian state media.

Iturup serves as Russia’s primary military air base in the region, underscoring the strategic importance of the islands to Moscow.

Japan’s foreign minister Toshimitsu Motegi said the islands are “inherently Japanese territory both historically and under international law” and that the government “strongly protests” the visit.

The incident adds to regional tensions, following recent joint patrols by Chinese and Russian naval vessels and Russian military drills near the islands.