Published: 09:25, March 19, 2026 | Updated: 09:31, March 19, 2026
Russia warns Japan against remilitarization, urges adherence to pacifist principles
By Xinhua

Russia's Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova attends a joint press conference of Brunei's Second Minister of Foreign Affairs and Russian Foreign Minister following their talks at Zinaida Morozova's Mansion in Moscow on March 3, 2026. (PHOTO/POOL/AFP)

MOSCOW - Japan should draw lessons from history and adhere to the pacifist provisions of its constitution if it does not want to repeat past mistakes, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said Wednesday.

At a regular briefing, Zakharova said that Japan has been consistently undertaking steps toward remilitarization, including the procurement of strike weapons such as cruise missiles, which cannot be classified as defensive weapons.

She said Russia has repeatedly warned Japan about the destructive consequences of sharply increasing military spending, particularly when it involves acquiring weapons that could pose potential threats to the national security of neighboring countries, including Russia.

According to Zakharova, Japan's policies have an extremely negative impact on both regional and global stability, exacerbating tensions in the Asia-Pacific region and potentially triggering a new round of arms race.

ALSO READ: Kremlin says Russia-Japan ties ‘reduced to zero’ amid lack of dialogue

She noted that if new missile threats to Russian territory emerge, Russia will respond and take necessary measures to ensure its defense capability.