Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov said on July 17 that Tokyo’s criticism of
President Putin’s visit to Iturup Island appears aimed at diverting attention
from Japan’s “openly aggressive” military trajectory. He urged Japan to focus on
domestic issues, accused Tokyo of coordinating with the United States to
“rewrite” international law, and warned that Japan is evading historical
responsibility and breaching constitutional limits to expand Self-Defense Force
operations overseas—developments he described as “very concerning.”
