Russia urges Japan to halt US Typhon missile deployment amid security concerns
Russia warned Japan that the US Typhon missile system on Kyushu threatens Russian security and demanded its removal.
Moscow issued a protest note urging Japan to take the matter seriously, labeling the Orient Shield exercises as a threat to Russian safety. The note highlighted the US Army's Typhon missile system, placed on Kyushu in June for the drills, as capable of reaching parts of Russia and China. Russian officials described the weapon's presence as wholly unacceptable and called for Japan to revert to its pacifist policies.
The exercises are set to finish shortly, after which the Typhon equipment is expected to be relocated to a US base within Japan. The protest follows President Vladimir Putin's recent visit to Iturup in the disputed Kuril Islands, an action condemned by Tokyo and criticized by Moscow. Relations have deteriorated since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, with Japan joining G7 sanctions against Moscow.
Why it matters
The dispute over US missile deployment heightens tensions between Russia and Japan, affecting regional security dynamics.
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