Tokyo: President Vladimir Putin's visit to Russia's far-eastern Kuril islands on Thursday has sparked a diplomatic protest from Japan, which also lays claim to the territory. This marked Putin's first visit to the islands, known in Japan as the Northern Territories, since they were seized by the Soviet Union in 1945, further straining the already tense Russian-Japanese relations.

According to France24.com, the Kremlin released footage of Putin visiting one of the Kuril's four main islands, where he toured a fish-processing plant and received caviar. This visit is noteworthy as it is the first by a Russian president since Dmitry Medvedev's in 2010. Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi condemned the visit, stating that "The Northern Territories are an inherent part of Japan's territory, both historically and under international law." She expressed that Putin's actions are "absolutely unacceptable" and complicate efforts to mend bilateral relations.

Putin's itinerary included a prior stop on the Russian island of Sakhalin, where he conducted a meeting focused on "ensuring the security of Russia's eastern borders" amid naval drills. The visit has led Japan's Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi to summon Russian ambassador Nikolai Nozdrev to lodge a formal protest, warning that the visit could "have an extremely negative impact on Japan-Russia relations," already complicated by Russia's ongoing conflict with Ukraine.

Japan, aligned with other G7 nations, has imposed sanctions on Russia and provided non-lethal support to Ukraine. Putin criticized Japan's actions, describing the sanctions as "unprovoked," while asserting that Japan holds territorial claims against Russia, not the other way around. Meanwhile, Russia's growing ties with China and North Korea, both of which have increased military activities in the region, add to Japan's security concerns.

The Kuril islands, with a population of about 20,000 Russian citizens, are strategically significant due to their mineral resources and military installations, which have been fortified with advanced defense systems. The islands' occupation since 1945 and subsequent military fortification underscore their importance in regional geopolitics. Professor Yee Kuang Heng from the University of Tokyo suggests that Putin's visit serves as a reminder of Russia's stronghold over the islands and his dissatisfaction with Japan's sanctions.