Source: Antiwar.com
by Ted Galen Carpenter
“The 1951 San Francisco peace treaty formally ending the war between the Allies and Japan attempted to resolve postwar territorial disputes. In that treaty, Tokyo renounced its claim to the Kurils but also contended that the four southernmost islands were distinct from the Kuril chain and, therefore, were still part of Japan’s territory. Since the Soviet Union never signed the treaty at all, the Kuril issue remained unresolved. The dispute has continued to be a volatile, emotional topic with populations in both countries. … There is a significant risk that the United States could become entangled in the disputes involving either the Kurils or the Senkakus. That is especially true since there is a mutual defense treaty with Japan.” (10/27/26)