Russia Warns Japan's Military Shift Threatens Global Stability
Russia says Japan's accelerating military buildup and nuclear policy review undermine regional and global security.
Russia has accused Japan of accelerating a course toward remilitarization, warning that Tokyo's recent defense policies are undermining both regional and global security.
Speaking at a regular press briefing on Thursday, Alexey Fadeev, deputy director of the Information and Press Department at the Russian Foreign Ministry, said Japan is using what he called "fabricated political pretexts" — including alleged threats from Russia and China — to justify its military expansion.
Fadeev's remarks came in response to Japan's release of its annual defense white paper, "Defense of Japan 2026," which Moscow claims deliberately distorts the regional security environment and exaggerates external threats.
The Russian official specifically pointed to Japan's movement away from the pacifist provisions of its own constitution, as well as efforts to revise long-standing commitments such as the "Three Non-Nuclear Principles," under which Japan pledges not to possess, produce, or allow the introduction of nuclear weapons.
"What's threatening the world is not the cooperation between Russia and China, but rather the steps taken by the Japanese leadership," Fadeev said, citing Tokyo's abandonment of pacifist principles and its apparent disregard for the outcomes and lessons of World War II.
Fadeev also expressed hope that the upcoming 81st anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki would serve as a reminder to the Japanese government of the necessity to pursue a peaceful path of development.
The comments highlight growing friction between Moscow and Tokyo over defense policy, with Russia framing Japan's military posture as a destabilizing factor in the region.