Following Vladimir Putin’s visit to Iturup Island, the United States said it continued to support Japan’s sovereignty over the disputed islands. U.S. Ambassador to Japan George Glass said Washington’s policy on the issue had not changed.
In a statement posted on the social media platform X on Friday, Glass said U.S. support for Japan, one of Washington’s most important allies, and its recognition of Tokyo’s sovereignty over the Northern Territories remained “steadfast.” He said the United States and Japan strongly opposed any steps that undermined peace and stability in the region as their alliance focused on promoting prosperity in the Indo-Pacific.
Putin’s visit to Iturup
Putin traveled on Thursday to Iturup Island, which Japan calls Etorofu. Located off Hokkaido and controlled by Russia but claimed by Japan, the island is part of a chain visited by the Russian president for the first time.
Russia calls the islands the Southern Kuril Islands. Japan maintains that Iturup, Kunashir, Shikotan and the Habomai island group, which it refers to as the Northern Territories, fall under its sovereignty.
The opposing positions of the parties
Tokyo argues that the islands were seized “unlawfully” by the former Soviet Union immediately after Japan surrendered on August 15, 1945. Moscow, meanwhile, considers the transfer of the islands to Russia through seizure legitimate.
The dispute over the islands has been one of the reasons Russia and Japan have been unable to sign a peace treaty since World War II. Tensions between the two countries have risen further in recent years after Japan imposed sanctions on Moscow over the Russia-Ukraine war.
Japan protests to Russia
Following Putin’s visit, the Japanese government summoned Russian Ambassador to Japan Nikolay Nozdrev on Thursday and lodged a “strong protest.” Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said the islands were an integral part of Japanese territory both historically and under international law.
