Abe Promised Putin not to Deploy U.S. Bases on Four Disputed Kuriles Islands if They are Given Back to Japan

Talking to Vladimir Putin in Singapore Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe promised the Russian president not to Deploy U.S. Bases on four disputed Kuril Islands if they are given back to Japan. It is about the islands of Habomai and Shikotan. Earlier, on November 15, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated at a press conference following his visit to Singapore that Moscow was ready to work with Tokyo on solving controversial issues. According to the head of state, during the meeting, Abe told him that Japan would be ready to return to the Kuril Islands issue on the basis of the 1956 declaration, which involves transferring the Japanese side of the two islands without specifying conditions and after the conclusion of a peace treaty. In December 2016, Asahi reported, citing a source, Secretary of the National Security Council of Japan, Setaro Yati, during a meeting with Russian counterpart Nikolai Patrushev that Tokyo was ready to deploy American bases in the Kuril Islands in case the islands were returned to Japan.