Russian-Japanese Energy Ties During the Cabinets of J. Koizumi and S. Abe

Abstract

Relations between the governments of Russia and Japan in the field of energy in the 21st century have reached a higher level than in previous years, when politicians in Tokyo linked the development of any Russian-Japanese economic ties with the resolving of the problem of Kuril status in favor to Tokyo position. a special role in development of Russia-Japan energy ties was played by the Japanese Prime Ministers J. Koizumi (2001–2005) and S. Abe (2012–2020). However, the full potential of cooperation in the energy sector has not been realized due to unresolved problems in bilateral relations, primarily territorial dispute. The purpose of the work is to identify the features of cooperation in the energy sector under the Cabinets of Koizumi and Abe and their conditionality. The conclusion is made about the decisive importance of the Kuril issue, the level of US-Russian relations, the dynamics of prices in international energy markets and the growing competition between China and Japan.

Acknowledgements: the work was carried out under the supervision of Associate Professor of the Department of History and Archeology, Candidate of Historian Sciences Shevchuk Olga Mikhailovna.