The United States has reaffirmed its support for Japan's sovereignty over a chain of islands that Russia also claims, according to Euronews.com. The statement follows a visit to the disputed territory by Russian President Vladimir Putin, which Japan's government has condemned.
The islands in question are the Kuril chain, located between Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula and Japan's northernmost main island of Hokkaido. Euronews.com reports that Washington's backing for Tokyo's position came after Putin's trip to the area. Japan's Prime Minister Takaichi called the visit "absolutely unacceptable," according to a report from CNBC.
The dispute over the islands dates back to the end of World War II, when Soviet forces seized them from Japan. The two countries have never signed a formal peace treaty because of the disagreement. The chain is strategically significant, sitting near key shipping routes and military zones in the North Pacific, as noted by globalnation.inquirer.net.
Putin's visit was the first by a Russian leader to the islands, according to BusinessWorld Online. Japan formally protested the move, which came amid heightened tensions between Moscow and the West over Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine. The Institute for the Study of War, in its August 13 assessment, noted the visit as part of broader Russian military and political activity in the region.
The US position aligns with its treaty obligations to Japan, which include a mutual defense pact. Washington has consistently backed Tokyo in past disputes with Moscow over the islands.
What to watch next: whether Japan's protest leads to any concrete diplomatic or economic measures against Russia, and how Moscow responds to Washington's renewed endorsement of Tokyo's claim.
