Russia Demands Japan Remove US Typhon Missile Systems

Russia has called on Japan to remove U.S.-made Typhon missile systems from its territory, saying their deployment raises concerns for national and regional security.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said Moscow had formally raised the issue with Japan over the deployment of U.S. Typhon ground-based missile systems on Japanese territory.

According to Zakharova, Russia sent a formal protest note to Japan on September 3. Moscow said the deployment of the systems was unacceptable regardless of how long they remain in Japan or under what circumstances they are stationed there.

Moscow Calls for the Missile Systems to Be Removed

The Russian Foreign Ministry said Tokyo was urged to end the deployment and remove the Typhon systems from Japanese territory.

Moscow has described the presence of the missile systems as a potential threat to Russia's national security and regional stability. These statements reflect the Russian government's position and have not been independently established as a fact about the systems' actual security impact.

The dispute comes amid growing military cooperation between Japan and the United States. Typhon systems have been involved in joint military activities in Japan, including exercises involving U.S., Japanese and Australian forces.

Russia Links the Issue to the Kuril Islands Dispute

Zakharova also connected Moscow's objections to broader disagreements between Russia and Japan.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said Japan should recognize what Moscow describes as the results of World War II, including its position concerning the southern Kuril Islands. Russia also called on Tokyo to abandon what it characterizes as a policy of remilitarization.

The territorial dispute over the southern Kuril Islands has remained a longstanding source of tension between Russia and Japan.

China Has Also Raised Concerns

According to Zakharova, China has separately sent a similar note to Japan concerning the deployment of Typhon systems.

China has previously criticized the deployment of U.S. intermediate-range missile systems in the region and called on Japan and the United States to avoid actions that Beijing says could undermine regional stability.

The issue has therefore become part of wider security tensions involving Russia, Japan, China and the United States in the Asia-Pacific region.

What Is the Typhon Missile System?

The U.S. Typhon system is a ground-based missile capability designed to launch missiles including the Tomahawk cruise missile and SM-6, depending on the configuration and mission.

Its deployment in Japan has attracted attention because the system can provide the U.S. military with a land-based missile capability in the region. Russia and China have both expressed objections to the presence of such systems in countries close to their territories.

The latest Russian demand adds another point of tension to already complicated relations between Moscow and Tokyo and highlights the broader military-security competition in the Asia-Pacific region.