Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed that the deployment of the U.S. Army’s Typhon missile system on its territory is not directed against any particular country, following Russia’s warning that it reserves the right to take “necessary measures” to ensure its security.
The Typhon system, operated by the U.S. Army, is a land-based platform capable of launching Tomahawk cruise missiles with a range of up to 1,600 kilometers. It is also equipped to fire long-range Standard SM-6 surface-to-air missiles. Its temporary deployment took place in September during the bilateral exercise Resolute Dragon 25, aimed at improving mobile deployment capabilities between the two forces.
The operation raised concern in Moscow, which noted that the system’s range places Russia’s eastern regions within its operational reach. The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs filed a formal protest with the Japanese embassy on October 31, claiming that the system’s presence at Iwakuni Air Base had not been withdrawn following the exercise. In a statement, the ministry said, “The Russian Federation reserves the right to take the necessary compensatory measures to ensure the appropriate level of its security.”
In response, the Japanese government stated that the deployment was temporary and does not pose a threat to the region. In its remarks, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan said the exercise “is not directed at any specific country or region,” emphasizing that the Typhon system is in the process of being withdrawn. The Japanese Ministry of Defense also reiterated that the deployment does not involve the permanent installation of U.S. missiles in the country.
The reappearance of U.S. intermediate-range land-based systems comes after Washington’s withdrawal from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty in 2019, which had prohibited missiles with ranges between 500 and 5,500 kilometers. The U.S. justified its exit by citing Russian violations of the agreement.
From Moscow, Dmitry Stefanovich, a researcher at the Primakov Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, commented that “the Typhon itself does not represent a major challenge at this time, but the proliferation of intermediate-range missiles by the United States and its allies in the region does.” He added that Russia could deploy Oreshnik ballistic missiles and Kalibr cruise missiles in its Far East, although such measures would likely be delayed until the end of the war in Ukraine.
As shown in the image above, the range of the U.S. missiles reaches Russia’s eastern coast. What most concerns Moscow is that the city of Vladivostok—the most important city in Russia’s Far East—is within that range. Additionally, Vladivostok hosts the largest naval base of Russia’s Pacific Fleet, making it a key strategic military hub.
Beyond the missiles: Is Japan rearming itself?
The regional context shows increased military activity, particularly from China, which has led Japan to strengthen its defensive capabilities. In its 2026 defense budget, the Ministry of Defense announced the creation of the SHIELD system (Synchronized, Hybrid, Integrated and Enhanced Littoral Defense), designed to bolster coastal defense through the coordinated use of unmanned aerial, naval, and underwater vehicles. The program will receive an investment of 128.7 billion yen—about 850 million dollars—and aims to integrate operations across all three branches of the Self-Defense Forces.
In parallel, the U.S. Seventh Fleet maintains a constant presence in the region. The carrier strike group of the USS George Washington (CVN-73) recently conducted combined exercises with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force and visited South Korea as part of its routine rotation. The drills, held south of Shikoku Island and in the East China Sea, included air defense operations and tactical coordination between Japanese and American ships.
Although diplomatic tensions with Russia persist, Tokyo reaffirmed that it will continue maintaining appropriate communication with Moscow on pending bilateral issues. “While Japan-Russia relations continue to face a difficult situation, Japan will maintain proper communication with Russia regarding various matters as neighboring countries,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated.
Images for illustrative purposes.
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