Russia Voices Concern Over Japan’s Increased Military Activity
According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, Russia has voiced its concerns over Japan’s increasing military activities in the region. Sergei Shoigu, Secretary of the Russian Security Council, stated that Moscow cannot ignore what he described as Japan’s “belligerent policy” and its military exercises conducted near Russia’s coastline.
Shoigu pointed to what he called provocative actions by Tokyo, noting Japan’s transformation from a nation restricted from possessing an independent armed force to one where the new Prime Minister advocates for boosting the defense budget to 2% of its GDP.
He explained that this 2% target aligns with levels set before Donald Trump’s presidency when the figure was later raised to 5%. Shoigu emphasized that this trajectory mirrors the approach adopted by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), with Japan incrementally moving in the same direction.
The Russian security official further commented on the weapons the United States leaves behind in the region after military drills and the stated intention to deploy missiles on Japanese warships as additional causes for concern.
Shoigu stressed that the increasing frequency of military exercises in the Asia-Pacific region and the deliberate passage of warships near Russia’s coasts are naturally alarming.
