Japan Protests Putin’s First Visit to Disputed Kuril Islands as Territorial Tensions Rise

Japan has strongly protested Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to a disputed island in the Kuril chain, reviving a long-running territorial dispute between Moscow and Tokyo and adding another strain to already difficult relations.

Putin travelled to Iturup, known as Etorofu in Japan, on Thursday, according to Russian state media. The island is one of four southern Kuril islands controlled by Russia but claimed by Japan, which refers to the group as the Northern Territories. It was reportedly the first time Putin had personally visited the disputed islands.

Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi condemned the visit, saying Tokyo had lodged a strong protest with Moscow. Japan maintains that the islands are an integral part of its territory and has consistently opposed Russian moves that reinforce Moscow’s control over them.

The visit came shortly after Putin inspected Russia’s Pacific Fleet during military exercises in the country’s Far East. The timing has added to concerns in Tokyo about Russia’s military activity around the disputed territory. Earlier this month, Japan also protested Russian plans for military exercises involving waters near Kunashir and Iturup.

The territorial dispute dates back to the final stages of the Second World War, when Soviet forces took control of the islands. Japan has continued to demand their return, while Russia regards them as sovereign Russian territory. The disagreement has prevented the two countries from concluding a formal post-war peace treaty.

Relations between Moscow and Tokyo have deteriorated further since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, with Japan joining Western sanctions against Moscow. Russia subsequently halted peace-treaty negotiations and suspended several forms of cooperation connected with the disputed islands.

Putin’s visit therefore carries significance beyond a presidential trip. By travelling directly to Iturup, the Russian leader has visibly reaffirmed Moscow’s administration of the territory, while Japan’s immediate protest signals that Tokyo remains unwilling to compromise on its longstanding claim.

The latest confrontation highlights how the unresolved island dispute continues to shape Russia-Japan relations nearly eight decades after the Second World War.