Russia Demands Japan Remove US Typhon Missile Systems

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation issued a formal protest to Japan demanding the immediate removal of U.S. ground-based Typhon missile systems deployed on Kyushu island. In a note delivered on September 3 to Japanese officials in Moscow and Tokyo, Russia characterized the deployment of these medium- and shorter-range missiles as unacceptable and a threat to national security and regional stability.

The Typhon system is capable of launching nuclear-capable Tomahawk and SM-6 missiles, which place parts of mainland China and eastern Russia within range. Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko met with Japanese Ambassador Akira Muto to insist that the Japanese government treat the protest with the utmost seriousness.

This diplomatic escalation occurs alongside an ongoing territorial dispute over the Kuril Islands and follows similar protests issued by China. While the Foreign Ministry maintains a hard line on the missile deployment, President Vladimir Putin has stated that Russia is not threatening Japan and has no claims against the country.