Russia, Japan: An ideal time to warm relations

RELATIONS between Russia and Japan generally run cold, but sometimes broader political and economic considerations cause them to thaw, however slightly. The geopolitical climate currently taking shape is once again conducive to talks between Moscow and Tokyo. Russia wants to extend its business and political ties to the east, and Japan wants to prevent Russia from getting too close to China. Still, major constraints remain for both Moscow and Tokyo that will limit the success of any attempts to warm ties.

After a quiet year, Moscow and Tokyo are now engaged in a sudden rush of diplomatic activity. Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida visited Moscow on Sept. 20-22 to meet with his counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, and Russian Security Council chief Nikolai Patrushev was in Tokyo from Sept. 22 to Sept. 25 to meet his counterpart, Shotaro Yachi. Each side is working on an agreement for Russian President Vladimir Putin to visit Japan before the end of the year.