Is NATO provoking Japan for war with Russia?
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Is NATO provoking Japan for war with Russia?
Pars Today - The Russian foreign ministry warned Japan over holding a war-game near the Russian borders.
The Russian foreign ministry, issuing a statement, announced its strong protest to the Japanese embassy in Moscow concerning a military maneuver which will be held near the Russian border by Japanese military forces in collaboration with NATO members. According to Pars Today, the Russian foreign ministry, in this statement, has slammed at Japan's provocative moves and made it clear that Moscow considers provocative military activities by Japanese military with the participation of Germany and Spain near the Russian borders as a potential threat for itself.
The Japanese Defense Minister, Minoru Kihara, had announced a while ago that the Japanese air defense force would hold a maneuver in collaboration with the armed forces of Germany, France and Spain from July 19-25. Kihara said, "The joint war-game with France will be held at the airbase in Ibaraki province, while the war-game with Germany and Spain will be held in Hokkaido province." Hokkaido is near the Russian border.
Russia and Japan have been disputed for decades on different issues, including the ownership of Kuril Islands.
Meanwhile, Russian officials have several times criticized Japan's militarist approach in Asia and Oceania during the recent decades.
MR/MG
Key phrases: Japan and Russia, Japan and NATO, US and Japan, Russia and NATO