Russia’s protest over Japan-US military drills fall on deaf ears in Tokyo

Analysts say Russia fears Japan’s growing ties with Nato nations – and is especially concerned about US missile deployments

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Ships from the US, Japan and Canada sail in formation in waters off Japan for Keen Sword drills in 2020. Photo: US Pacific Fleet

Published: 8:00am, 15 Oct 2024

Japan has brushed aside a diplomatic protest from Russia concerning joint exercises with US forces near Hokkaido, as analysts warn that Moscow may be ramping up its aggression towards perceived adversaries.

The Russian foreign ministry lodged a “strong protest” with the Japanese embassy in Moscow last week over the Keen Sword 2024 drills, which are set to take place from October 23 to November 1.

“The Japanese side was informed of the categorical unacceptability of such practices, which are expanding in scale year by year, including the involvement of non-regional Nato member states,” the ministry said, according to Russia’s TASS news agency.

In response, the Japanese embassy called Moscow’s protest “totally unacceptable”, reiterating concerns about Russia’s increased military activity near northern Japan.

The embassy’s statement, issued on Friday, also demanded that Russia prevent a repeat of an incident on September 23 when a Russian Il-38 military patrol aircraft entered Japanese airspace three times, prompting Japan to scramble fighter jets for interception.

An Il-38 maritime patrol aircraft of the Russian navy is seen flying over the Barents Sea. Photo: Russian Defence Ministry Press Service via AP

“This latest protest from Russia appears to be largely formulaic,” said James Brown, an international-relations professor specialising in Russian affairs at Temple University’s Tokyo campus.