What signals does Putin's visit to Iturup island send?

Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Iturup Island in the Southern Kuril Islands on August 13, marking his first trip to the disputed island chain claimed by both Russia and Japan. The visit came amid continued tensions between Moscow and Tokyo over Japan's sanctions policy and the long-running territorial dispute. 

Tokyo's recent security posture has added to the unease, reflected in a co-authored article by the Chinese and Russian ambassadors to Japan, which warned against attempts to reinterpret the outcomes of World War II and expressed concern over military buildup in the Asia-Pacific region.

International media have largely focused on what signals the trip may have sent regarding Russia-Japan relations and regional security dynamics.

According to The New York Times, Putin's visit reaffirmed Russia's sovereignty claims over the islands and underscored Moscow's opposition to Japan's sanctions on Russia over the conflict in Ukraine. The newspaper noted that the move was widely viewed as reflecting the current state of Russia-Japan relations and Moscow's dissatisfaction with Tokyo's policy toward Moscow.

Nikkei Asia reported that Putin devoted a significant portion of a speech during the naval exercises in the Sakhalin region to Japan, criticizing Tokyo's sanctions and stressing Russia's effective control over the islands. The report said Russia has argued that any meaningful improvement in bilateral ties would require Japan to reconsider its current approach toward Moscow.

Deutsche Welle highlighted the strategic significance of the islands, citing their rich fishing grounds and mineral resources. The report noted Putin's remarks that Russia's sovereignty over the islands had been confirmed by international agreements and that Japan had changed its position toward Russia. According to the report, Moscow has increasingly criticized what it sees as Japan's hostile policies in recent years.

AFP said the visit carried significance beyond the territorial dispute itself. The agency reported that the trip came against the backdrop of Japan's closer security cooperation with NATO and its evolving defense policy. AFP noted that Russia has deployed military assets on the islands and views the issue through both territorial and security lenses. According to the report, territorial disagreements combined with growing security competition have further complicated prospects for restarting long-stalled peace treaty negotiations.

Russia rejected Japan's protest following the visit and reiterated that the Southern Kurils are Russian territory. Russian officials said the issue of sovereignty is not open for discussion and described visits by Russian leaders to the islands as an internal matter.