March 29, 2016 | Policy Brief

Russia Flexes its Muscle in Dispute with Japan

March 29, 2016 | Policy Brief

Russia Flexes its Muscle in Dispute with Japan

Russia’s defense minister announced last week that Russia would deploy an advanced coastal-defense missile system and unmanned aerial vehicles to the far-eastern Kuril Islands, the southernmost of which are claimed by Japan. The move underscores that while Russia has been busy exerting its influence in Eastern Europe, the Baltics, and the Levant, it remains committed to projecting power in the strategically vital and increasingly tense Pacific region, as well.

The dispute between Russia and Japan over the Kuril Islands dates to the mid-1800s. Towards the end of World War II, the Soviet Union occupied the entire archipelago, and the 1945 Yalta Summit solidified Moscow’s control, resulting in the expulsion of the islands’ Japanese population two years later. While Moscow remains in control of the islands, Japan took on a more assertive position starting in the 1960’s when it moved to claim the Islands after a previous deal to settle the dispute fell apart.

Since coming to power nearly 16 years ago, Vladimir Putin has sought to ensure control of the islands by creating facts on the ground, including investing in infrastructure, modernizing the local artillery division, and potentially building a naval base. Control of the Island chain allows the Russian Pacific Fleet, and in particular submarines which use the surrounding deep waters, necessary access to the Pacific Ocean. In recent years, Russian leaders’ visits to the islands (referred to in Japan as the “Northern Territories”) has strained bilateral ties, particularly in 2010 when Tokyo temporarily recalled its ambassador as a result of a visit by Dmitry Medvedev.

Russia’s deployment of the K-300P coastal defense missile system – including Yakhont anti-ship cruise missiles – shows a renewed commitment to not only keep the islands under the Kremlin’s control, but to take also advantage of their strategic location as a maritime passageway for the Russian Pacific Fleet. Moreover, the announcement’s timing is itself significant, as Japan is set to host the annual G7 Summit starting next month, and Putin would hardly miss an opportunity to inject Russia into the conversation.

The deployment of the K-300P appears to presage a more aggressive posture of Russian forces in the Pacific. This latest deployment is one that will not only put Tokyo on high alert – the Pentagon will also now need to account for the K-300P’s anti-ship capabilities when conducting naval operations in the region.

Boris Zilberman is deputy director of congressional relations at Foundation for Defense of Democracies, where he is also a Russia analyst. Find him on Twitter: @rolltidebmz  

Issues:

Indo-Pacific Russia