The victory in the parliamentary election of the Liberal Democratic Party led by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi creates a favorable environment for a review of Russia-Japan relations. This opinion expressed Deputy RIA Novosti Muneo Suzuki.
According to him, in Japan, Sanae Takaichi “has a lot of hope” and her party winning a majority of seats in the lower house will allow her to pursue stable policies.
“Prime Minister Takaichi understands the importance of Russia-Japan relations. I believe that a favorable environment is being created for a new start in Russia-Japan relations,” explained the deputy prime minister, famous in Japanese politics for his interest in signing a peace treaty with Russia.
He recalled that Takaichi was a member of the close circle of late Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who actively sought to develop bilateral relations.
“I will continue to advise Prime Minister Takaichi that US-Japan relations are very important, but Russia-Japan relations are also important. Prime Minister Takaichi himself knows the importance of Russia-Japan relations,” he emphasized.
Let us recall that Russia and Japan have not yet signed a peace treaty after World War II. Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed that Tokyo sign an agreement by the end of 2018 with no preconditions. In the opinion of the head of state, on the basis of this document, Moscow and Tokyo “as friends” can resolve all controversial issues, including territorial disputes.
However, in 2022, Japan joined the sanctions against Russia. In addition, the Japanese government in its Green Paper on Foreign Affairs for the first time since 2003 officially designated the southern Kuril Islands as “illegally occupied”.
