America-Japan security alliance ‘a problem’ in talks over Kurils, says Russian foreign minister

MOSCOW — Russia’s foreign minister says the U.S.-Japan security alliance poses “a problem” for Russia-Japan relations and complicates peace treaty talks.

The two countries have been struggling to negotiate a peace treaty after World War II because of a territorial dispute. The Soviet Union took the four southernmost Kuril Islands during the final days of the war, which Japan asserts territorial rights to.

RELATED

How Trump’s attacks on the US-Japan security alliance could affect readiness

Experts pinpointed two critical issues that could have motivated Trump’s remarks: upcoming trade negotiations with Japan, and the expiration of an agreement dictating how much funding Japan contributes to host U.S. troops.

By Diana Stancy

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Saturday that Japan's "military alliance with Washington, of course, is a problem" when it comes to changing the nature of the country's relationship with Russia.

Lavrov said the Japanese government promised to address Russia's concerns.

He added that implementation of the 1956 Soviet-Japanese Declaration, which outlined conditions for a peace treaty, was not possible with the U.S. military presence in Japan.

RELATED

Russia military acknowledges new branch: info warfare troops

Along with a steady flow of new missiles, planes and tanks, Russia's defense minister said Wednesday his nation also has built up its muscle by forming a new branch of the military — information warfare troops.

In Other News

America-Japan security alliance ‘a problem’ in talks over Kurils, says Russian foreign minister

Russia’s foreign minister says the U.S.-Japan security alliance poses “a problem” for Russia-Japan relations and complicates peace treaty talks.

No more stories