Medvedev Criticizes Japan Over Hiroshima and Nagasaki Commemorations
Dmitry Medvedev, the deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council and a former Russian president, has sharply criticized Japan’s leadership over its recent commemorations of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
In a statement released on Thursday, Medvedev claimed that neither Japanese Prime Minister Shinjiro Koizumi nor other senior Japanese officials explicitly identified the United States as the country that carried out the atomic bombings during recent remembrance events.
“What a disgrace that, in recalling the nuclear bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki recently, not once did Japan’s Prime Minister or any other Japanese official bother to mention who did it,” Medvedev said.
He went on to argue that Japan is overly dependent on the United States, describing the country as “a vassal of the United States” and adding that “at some point, it will become a ronin,” a reference to the historical Japanese term for a masterless samurai.
Medvedev’s remarks come amid continued tensions between Russia and Japan over regional security, sanctions, and broader geopolitical issues in the Asia-Pacific region. Moscow has repeatedly criticized Japan’s close military and strategic cooperation with the United States, while Tokyo has condemned Russia’s actions in Ukraine and strengthened its defense ties with Washington and other allies.
Japanese officials had not immediately responded publicly to Medvedev’s comments. The annual commemorations of Hiroshima and Nagasaki are traditionally focused on remembering the victims of the atomic bombings and promoting nuclear disarmament and peace, though discussions over historical responsibility have long remained politically sensitive.