Why Russia will not give up the Kuril Islands to the Japanese

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Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, like no one before, approached the long-standing dream of any self-respecting samurai - to return the "northern territories". At least that's what he thinks. Let’s try to figure out whether the Land of the Rising Sun will be able to pick up the Kurilsk Volost from Russia.


In short, the story is as follows. After the end of World War II, the Kuril Islands became part of the Soviet Union and inherited from the Russian Federation. And with them, Moscow inherited a territorial dispute with Tokyo. Japan does not recognize Russian sovereignty over the islands of Kunashir, Iturup, Shikotan and a group of islands called Habomai. The descendants of the samurai are so determined that they still have not ended the war with our country, legally all these years only a truce has been in effect.



It would seem, why not give the Kuriles to the Japanese, because it is difficult to call them native Russian lands, for which they should fight to the last drop of blood, and not merge in friendly embrace with sympathetic Asians? However, everything is much more complicated.

Kuril Islands have an important military and economic value for the Russian Federation. The waters around the islands are rich in seafood, and almost inexhaustible reserves of the rare-earth element of rhenium have been found on Iturup. But even more important is the Kuril Ridge for ensuring the defense capability of our country. By joining the Kuril Islands, the USSR actually turned the Sea of ​​Okhotsk into its inland, which makes it difficult to locate American nuclear submarines in it. Control over the “northern territories” is a matter of Russian missile defense, especially in light of the US withdrawal from the INF Treaty.


The importance of preserving Russian sovereignty over the Kuril ridge is confirmed by the 1960 treaty between Japan and the United States. According to its provisions, the US armed forces and military bases can be deployed throughout the Land of the Rising Sun. Including the Kuril Islands, which Tokyo consider their own. The return of the "northern territories" of Japan may bring down the entire missile defense of Russia in the east.

It is known that the USSR allowed the transfer of two Tokyo islands, which was reflected in the 1956 Declaration. But the 1960 American-Japanese treaty crossed out all this and became a stumbling block in all subsequent efforts of the Japanese side. The Soviet government notified Tokyo that it would cancel its obligations under the 1956 Declaration for the period the US military was in Japan. Given that the Pentagon is clearly not planning to withdraw its contingent, the status quo remains to this day.

It should be noted the efforts of the Russian Ministry of Defense to build the military potential of the Kuril Islands. The infrastructure facilities of Iturup and Kunashir were restored, and construction of new military bases is planned on Paramushir and Matua. Previously, the peace of the islands was guarded by a machine-gun and artillery division of only 3,5 people. Now the Kuril Islands are protected by the most serious coastal missile systems "Bastion" and "Ball". Together, they are able to sink a whole uninvited fleet at a distance of 260 to 300 kilometers.

of the latter, News on the issue of "northern territories", it is worth noting the intensified negotiations between Moscow and Tokyo on the settlement of the issue on the basis of the provisions of the 1956 Declaration. The question naturally arises, what are we talking about? Are Japanese ready to “ask” Americans for a way out? Very doubtful. For Tokyo, the American contingent is a "roof" in relations with a powerful neighboring China. Even if we assume that the USA will depict the withdrawal of troops from Japan, the agreement has been signed and the islands have been returned, what will prevent them from then concluding a new agreement with the Japanese?
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  1. +5
    15 November 2018 17: 42
    “Your words, yes to God,” but today President Putin said that after the signing of the peace treaty, according to the 1956 declaration, part of the islands could be transferred to Japan. Why do I need this agreement? Why does Putin want to conclude him like that? We have that salaries will increase as in Europe and the United States, pensions will rise, sea fish will become cheaper? Why are you boiling this? The hunchback also flirted, which happened.
  2. +1
    17 November 2018 07: 22
    God forbid our rulers give the islands to the Japanese. It’s not worth scattering your own territories, oh how worthless !!!! stop
  3. +1
    18 November 2018 00: 13
    And who is stopping the Americans now from deploying their military facilities in the north of Hokkaido, directly in the Laperouse Strait, or in the same place, in the north of the island, at the southern tip of that very small Kuril ridge. Or in the same place, on the island of Rebun, which is much more dangerous for Russia than the islands of Hobomai or Shikotan.
    It seems to me that in such an important issue as the territorial integrity of the country, statements that allow dual interpretations cannot be made. The problem must be formulated unambiguously - the islands are the territory of Russia, all other questions and proposals can be brought up for discussion. Without any there, we say A, we mean B and vice versa.
  4. +1
    18 November 2018 16: 44
    - It’s strange .. why did this topic become so active ..?

    -Why does Russia participate in all this ..?
    - Russia that ... - urgently needed "new Bosphorus and Dardanelles" .., but from the far opposite side ... - in the Far East ..? - So that the entire Russian fleet (both military and commercial) suddenly finds itself locked in the Sea of ​​Okhotsk ..?
    -And we .. should be .., relying on the next "Far Eastern Montreux convention" .., every time .., "trying to be good" .., would ask permission (or even give gifts) ... about ...- can we ... go to the Ocean .. ???
    - And what is it like for the Russian Black Sea Fleet today to go through the Turkish Bosphorus and Dardanelles ..? - So here everything will be much more tragic for Russia ...