The deployment of US-made Typhon missile systems on Kyushu, a southern Japanese island, has sparked a diplomatic protest from Russia, which fears the move may destabilize regional security. Moscow argues that these medium-range missile systems could undermine peace in the area, urging Japan to reconsider its decision.
Russia’s Foreign Ministry has formally expressed its concerns through a protest note sent earlier this month, cautioning that the presence of these missile systems poses a security threat. The note calls on Tokyo to dismantle the systems and address Russia’s apprehensions earnestly, emphasizing the potential risks they introduce to the region.
The issue was further discussed by Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko during a meeting with Japanese Ambassador Akira Muto in Moscow. The missile deployment adds another layer of tension to the already strained relations between the two countries, which are entangled in a longstanding territorial dispute over the southern Kuril Islands. These islands are currently under Russian control but are claimed by Japan, stalling the formal conclusion of a peace treaty since the end of World War II.
Russia maintains its stance on sovereignty over the southern Kuril Islands, asserting that its ownership is firmly established despite Japan’s claims. The missile system deployment now complicates this ongoing territorial disagreement, highlighting underlying geopolitical frictions in the Asia-Pacific region.