courtesy: Business Standard
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A move by Japan of providing Patriot air defense systems to Ukraine will have “grave consequences” for Russia-Japan ties, Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Wednesday.
The already difficult relations between Tokyo and Moscow have deteriorated further ever since Russia have sent tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine in February 2022. This resulted in Japan joining its allies in the west to impose sweeping economic sanctions on Russia.
Last week, Japan said that it will be preparing to ship Patriot air defense to the United States post revising its arms export guidelines, which has been Tokyo’s first major overhaul of export curbs in nine years.
Although Japan’s new export control still prevent it from shipping weapons to countries which are at war, it may indirectly benefit in this war against Russia as Japan’s supply will provide extra capacity to provide military aid to Kyiv.
“The Japanese side loses control over the weapons with which Washington can now do whatever it wants,” said Zakharova in weekly briefing. She added that there is a very much possibility of the Patriot missiles will end up in Ukraine.