Russia Condemns Japan-US-Australia Drills, Cites Missile Threat

Key facts

• Russia has lodged a formal complaint with Japan regarding upcoming joint military exercises with the U.S. and Australia.
• The exercises, named 'Orient Shield', are scheduled to take place from September 8-24 in Japan.
• The drills will involve 3,700 personnel and will feature U.S. Typhon mid-range missile systems capable of launching SM-6 and Tomahawk missiles.
• Russia views the deployment of these missile systems as a threat to its national security.
• Moscow has warned of compensatory countermeasures to ensure its national security.

Russia has condemned upcoming joint military exercises between Japan, Australia, and the United States, stating that the deployment of U.S. Typhon missile systems poses a threat to its national security. Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman for Russia's Foreign Ministry, announced that Russia had lodged a formal complaint with the Japanese embassy in Moscow.

The 'Orient Shield' drills are scheduled to run from September 8-24 in Japan and will involve 3,700 personnel. For the first time, these exercises will include U.S. Typhon mid-range missile systems, which can launch SM-6 and Tomahawk cruise missiles. Zakharova stated that such provocative military activity near Russia's far eastern borders is unacceptable and that the deployment of these weapons on Japanese territory is absolutely unacceptable.

Russia warned that it would take compensatory countermeasures to ensure its national security. This exchange follows recent protests between Russia and Japan, including President Vladimir Putin's visit to a disputed Russian-controlled island off northeast Japan, which Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi called 'absolutely unacceptable'.