Photo/Illutration Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz during their talks in the Kremlin in Moscow on Feb. 15. (Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

Politics call for theatrics at times.

While Yasuhiro Nakasone (1918-2019) was prime minister, one of the members of his brain trust was Keita Asari (1933-2018), a high-profile stage director and co-founder of Gekidan Shiki (Shiki Theater Company).

During U.S. President Ronald Reagan's official visit to Japan, Nakasone invited him to his mountain retreat, where they sat together by the fireside, clad in matching "chanchanko" traditional padded kimono jackets.

Reportedly staged by Asari, this was calculated to visually play up the two leader's cozy relationship.

Where Russian President Vladimir Putin's recent displays are concerned, they are nothing short of pure histrionics. He even had TV cameras rolling while he conferred and strategized with his foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov.

Putin was shown asking Lavrov whether there was a chance of reaching an agreement with Europe and the United States. And Lavrov replied, "I must say there are always chances."

For his summit with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Putin positioned himself at the opposite end of a very long table. It appeared that this was meant to visually imply their wide perception gap and was not for COVID-19 social distancing.

Footage is also constantly being streamed of Russian troops along the Ukraine border, making me imagine them as extras in a war movie.

But no, they are real-life armed combatants.

The Russian defense ministry announced that some troops have started withdrawing. Is this a sign of detente?

"Gunboat diplomacy" is an old term denoting conspicuous displays of naval power as a means for forcing a concession from another country.

One example was the fleet of Commodore Matthew C. Perry (1794-1858) of the U.S. Navy that effectively coerced Japan into opening its doors in the 19th century.

A modern-day version of gunboat diplomacy is being employed by Russia against Europe and the United States.

But what is horrifying is that the gunboat contains nuclear weapons, and Putin even made a point of referring to Russia as "one of the nations in possession of nuclear arms."

History shows that wars can erupt without any definitive intent. We must remain vigilant.

--The Asahi Shimbun, Feb. 17

* * *

Vox Populi, Vox Dei is a popular daily column that takes up a wide range of topics, including culture, arts and social trends and developments. Written by veteran Asahi Shimbun writers, the column provides useful perspectives on and insights into contemporary Japan and its culture.

Related News