On October 11, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs formally lodged a strong protest with the Japanese embassy in Moscow regarding the planned joint military exercises between Japan and the United States near the Russian border.

According to a statement released on the ministry’s website, the planned exercises, scheduled for late October to early November and to take place in various locations including Hokkaido—close to the Russian border—have raised significant concerns for Russia.

The Ministry emphasized that the scale of these joint drills has expanded annually, particularly with the involvement of NATO member countries from outside the region, which it deemed absolutely unacceptable. The ministry expressed deep regret over Japan’s disregard for Russia’s concerns on this matter.

Furthermore, the Russian Foreign Ministry warned that it would inevitably take appropriate countermeasures to bolster its defense capabilities and safeguard national sovereignty. They also criticized any attempts by Japan to express “concern” regarding Russia’s actions as inappropriate.