Russia condemns Japan-US-Australia ‘Orient Shield’ military drills–Here’s why

Russia on Tuesday slammed upcoming joint military exercises between Japan, United States and Australia, citing it as a move to threaten its national security.

According to the Kremlin, it had formally complained to Tokyo about the deployments of US Typhoon missile launchers during the exercises, jeopardising its own national security. These drills would take place in Japanese regions closer to Russia’s own borders.

As reported by Japan’s Kyodo News, the joint military drills titled “Orient Shield” are expected to be scheduled in September, running from 8-24 in Japan and involving 3,700 personnel from three countries.

The amount of personnel involved makes the drills the biggest of its kind. For the very first time, they will involve “US Typhon ​mid-range missile systems which can launch SM-6 and Tomahawk cruise missiles.”

According to Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman ⁠for Russia's Foreign Ministry, Russia wants Japan not to depart from the policy of pacifism.

"The Japanese side was firmly informed that provocative military activity ​near our country’s far eastern borders is categorically unacceptable,” said Zakharova.

"Attention was also drawn to reports ​that, as part of these exercises, it is intended to deploy American Typhon ground-based systems. It was made ‌clear ⁠to the embassy that the deployment of such weapons on Japanese territory, including under the pretext of military exercises, is absolutely unacceptable as it poses a threat to Russia’s security.”

“A warning was issued regarding compensatory countermeasures by Moscow aimed at ensuring an appropriate level of national security.”

In previous weeks, both Russia and Japan hit back at each other with a series of protests driven by Russian president Vladimir Putin’s visit to a disputed Russian-controlled island off northeast Japan. The Japanese PM Sanae Takaichi slammed the visit “absolutely unacceptable.”