Ukraine crisis: Russian warships in waters off Japan are a warning to Tokyo against siding with US, experts say
- ‘Unusual’ deployment of submarines, destroyers and frigates is aimed at discouraging Japan from joining the US and Europe in sanctions, analysts say
- It also showcases the Russian military’s ability to operate on various fronts simultaneously and underlines Tokyo’s weak point on the Kuril Islands
They say the deployment is also meant as a broader message to Moscow’s rivals that its military is prepared for all eventualities.
Japan’s Ministry of Defence confirmed on Tuesday that a fleet of 24 Russian ships had been carrying out exercises in the Sea of Japan and the Sea of Okhotsk, off northern Hokkaido, since February 1. The vessels include submarines, destroyers and frigates.
“This deployment is very unusual in both its scale and timing,” said James Brown, an associate professor of international relations specialising in the Russian Far East at the Tokyo campus of Temple University.
“Conditions in the Sea of Okhotsk are going to be very testing, in particular, as there will be extremely low temperatures, significant ice cover and drifting ice, all of which combine to make operations dangerous,” he said.