Context: Kuril Islands dispute
Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Iturup, called Etorofu in Japan, in the Kuril Islands for the first time. This triggered a strong protest from Japan and revived the long-running Russia–Japan territorial dispute. The dispute has remained a major obstacle to a formal post-World War II peace treaty between the two countries.
Where is the dispute?
Kuril Islands
The Kuril Islands are a volcanic island chain located between Japan’s Hokkaido and Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula.
They strategically connect the Sea of Okhotsk with the Pacific Ocean.
Four disputed southern islands
The four disputed islands are:
- Iturup, called Etorofu in Japan
- Kunashir, called Kunashiri in Japan
- Shikotan
- Habomai
Russia administers these islands as the Southern Kurils.
Japan calls them the Northern Territories and claims sovereignty over them.
Historical Background
The Soviet Union occupied the islands in the final days of World War II in 1945.
Japan disputes Russia’s sovereignty over the islands.
Japan maintains that the four islands are historically and legally Japanese territory.
The unresolved dispute has prevented Moscow and Tokyo from concluding a formal peace treaty despite decades of negotiations.
Why the dispute is important
Strategic Location
The islands provide Russia with important access and military positioning in the Pacific and Sea of Okhotsk.
Security Dimension
Russia has strengthened its military presence in the region.
The islands remain strategically significant amid wider tensions in the Indo-Pacific.
Diplomatic Impact
Japan’s relations with Russia have already deteriorated following the Ukraine conflict.
This makes settlement of the territorial dispute even more difficult.
Key Takeaway
Putin’s visit to Iturup has renewed tensions over the Kuril Islands dispute. The issue remains important because it combines territorial claims, post-war history, Indo-Pacific security and Russia–Japan diplomatic tensions.
