Moscow/Tokyo: In a recent development, Nikolai Nozdrev, Russia’s newly appointed ambassador to Japan, issued a stern warning to Tokyo regarding the possible provision of Patriot missile systems to Ukraine, as reported by the RIA news agency on Friday.
Expressing concern, Nozdrev cautioned that any move by Japan to transfer Patriot missile systems, produced under US license, to Ukraine could result in significant repercussions, potentially triggering retaliatory actions from Moscow. He underlined Russia’s intent to closely monitor the trajectory of Japanese arms exports, particularly following Tokyo’s relaxation of export regulations in late 2023.
The MIM-104 Patriot (Phased Array Tracking Radar to Intercept On Target) missile system stands as the primary air and missile defense system of the United States Army. Originally designed for anti-aircraft purposes, the Patriot has evolved to engage various threats, including ballistic and cruise missiles, loitering munitions, and aircraft.
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Of particular concern to Russia is the potential export of Patriot missile complexes and missiles manufactured in Japan under US license to Ukraine via the United States. Nozdrev emphasized, “Accordingly, we will be watching carefully to make sure that the Patriots delivered do not end up in Ukraine, because if that happens, there will be the most severe consequences for bilateral (Russia-Japan) relations, including our retaliatory steps,” as cited by RIA.
The Patriot missile system, produced by the US defense contractor Raytheon, is currently deployed by the US and several allied nations, including Germany, Greece, Israel, Kuwait, and South Korea, among others.
