Photo/Illutration A Russian submarine draws attention during a public event held at the Maritime Self-Defense Force’s Yokosuka base in Kanagawa Prefecture outside Tokyo ahead of an international fleet review in October 2002. (Asahi Shimbun file photo)

Japan will not invite Russia to an international naval fleet review it will stage this year for the first time in 20 years, citing the Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine.

The fleet review will be held to coincide with the 70th anniversary of the founding the Maritime Self-Defense Force.

“The Russian invasion has undermined the foundation of international order and is a flagrant violation of international law,” Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi said June 7 in explaining the decision not to extend an invitation to Moscow.

Details of the event, including when and where the review will be held, have yet to be announced.

The last time Japan hosted the review was in October 2002 when Junichiro Koizumi was prime minister. He attended the event in Tokyo Bay that involved 17 submarines and naval vessels from 11 countries, which included Russia, the United States and South Korea.

Kishi also said Russia will also be excluded from this year’s session of the Western Pacific Naval Symposium that Japan is hosting.

He said allowing Russia to take part in the meeting would negate the shared purpose of the gathering, which is to nurture mutual trust among navies of participating countries.

The WPNS meeting is held every alternate year with representatives from more than 20 nations.

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