Russia has voiced strong concern over what it believes is the continued presence of the U.S. Typhon missile system in Japan, amid deepening military and strategic cooperation between Washington and Tokyo. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Moscow is increasingly alarmed by what it views as Japan’s growing militarization. Speaking to journalists in Moscow, Lavrov claimed that NATO allies from outside the Asia-Pacific region have also taken part in military activities near Russia’s borders.
According to Moscow, joint drills and expanded deployments are contributing to rising regional tensions. Japan’s Defense Ministry told Newsweek in October that the Typhon system was expected to be removed and was not intended as a permanent deployment. Japan’s Foreign Ministry later responded to Russian concerns by stating that the system was not aimed at any specific country. Lavrov, however, said Russia has not received any official confirmation that the systems have been withdrawn.
He warned that, based on Russian information, the Typhon launchers — capable of firing Tomahawk cruise missiles — remain on Japanese territory. The United States first deployed the mid-range Typhon missile system to Japan in August as part of efforts to strengthen its military posture in the Asia-Pacific and reassure allies amid China’s growing military assertiveness.
The system was stationed at the U.S. Marine Corps base in Iwakuni for military exercises. NATO considers security in the Asia-Pacific closely linked to transatlantic stability, citing China’s partnership with Russia, the ongoing war in Ukraine, and concerns that a potential conflict over Taiwan could strain U.S. military resources and weaken Europe’s defense against Moscow.
