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Russia builds surveillance bases near northern Japan. Is it ‘punishing’ Tokyo for supporting Ukraine?
- Russia’s new development on the Kuril Islands aims to ‘punish’ Japan for supporting international sanctions and providing aid to Ukraine, analysts say
- The new defensive bases are a concern but not a significant new threat to Japan, as they are not offensive capabilities, analysts say
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Russia is building a network of surveillance bases on disputed islands off northern Japan to boost its military capabilities, although analysts say the enhancements are, in part, a thinly veiled warning to Japan about its continued support for Ukraine.
The surveillance equipment on the new bases is similar to that used by the Russian Black Sea fleet to gather information on Ukraine, including tracking incoming drones and identifying targets for surface-to-air missiles.
Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu announced the new construction on the Kuril Islands on Friday, Russian state news agency TASS reported. The islands, the most southerly of which lie within sight of Hokkaido, were seized by Soviet troops in the closing days of World War II.
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Some analysts view the connection to Ukraine as a message to Tokyo about its support for Kyiv in the Ukraine war.
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“Russia is looking for any way to ‘punish’ Japan supporting international sanctions and providing support to Ukraine, such as imposing a ban on imports of Japanese seafood,” said James Brown, professor of international relations specialising in Russian affairs at the Tokyo campus of Temple University.
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