The United States has thrown its weight behind Japan's claim to a chain of islands in the Pacific that Russia has controlled since the end of World War II, following a rare visit by President Vladimir Putin that has inflamed tensions between Moscow and Tokyo.
George Glass, the US ambassador to Japan, said on social media that Washington's recognition of Japanese sovereignty over the Northern Territories—as Japan calls the four southernmost islands of the Kuril chain—was "unwavering." He added that the US-Japan alliance, which he described as dedicated to prosperity across the Indo-Pacific, strongly opposes any action that undermines peace and stability in the region.
The islands—Etorofu, Kunashiri, Shikotan, and the Habomai islets—lie off the coast of Hokkaido and were seized by Soviet forces in August 1945, days after Moscow broke its neutrality pact with Japan. Japan has since maintained that the occupation was illegal and that the islands remain an inherent part of its territory, a position that has prevented the two countries from signing a formal peace treaty to end their wartime hostilities.
Putin's visit, the first by a Russian president since Dmitry Medvedev in 2010, was described by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi as "absolutely unacceptable" and an affront to the Japanese people. Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi summoned Russia's ambassador, Nikolay Nozdrev, to lodge a strong protest and demanded that Moscow be informed of Tokyo's displeasure.
Russia's embassy in Tokyo responded by reiterating that the islands are part of Russia and that Putin's trip was not a matter for discussion with foreign states. The Kremlin publicized the visit with a video of Putin inspecting a fish-processing plant and tasting caviar, a move that appeared designed to underscore Moscow's control over the territory.
Strategic significance and military buildup
The islands are not merely a matter of national pride; they hold strategic value for Russia. They sit at the entrance to the Sea of Okhotsk, giving Russia's Pacific Fleet access to the open ocean without passing through Japanese-controlled waters. Over the years, Moscow has reinforced its military presence there, deploying Bastion and Bal coastal defence missile systems in 2016 and again in December 2021, as well as advanced air defence systems and fighter jets. An air base was also established on Etorofu Island.
The latest deployment in 2021 was on an uninhabited volcanic island in the chain, which had once hosted a Japanese army base before the Soviet occupation. That base was later abandoned due to funding shortages after the Soviet Union's collapse.
For Japan, the dispute is deeply emotional. Takaichi said the visit had hardened public sentiment toward Russia and made it more difficult to restore bilateral relations in the medium to long term. She also linked the issue to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, noting that Tokyo had already imposed sanctions on Moscow and placed export controls on technology with military applications. Japan is now considering strengthening those sanctions in response to Putin's trip.
Russia, for its part, has designated Japan an "unfriendly state" and has shown little willingness to compromise on the islands. The visit, which came amid ongoing Pacific military drills, underscores the Kremlin's determination to assert its sovereignty over the territory.
The US stance is likely to further strain Russia-Japan relations, but it also reflects Washington's broader strategy of reinforcing alliances in the Indo-Pacific. As the dispute shows no signs of resolution, the islands remain a flashpoint in a region already tense with geopolitical rivalry.
