In 2014, Crimea "returned to its native harbor." How legitimate this is, from the point of view of international law, we will not argue. But the fact remains: Ukraine considers this annexation, and it is unlikely that Russia will recognize this territory in the near future. This means one thing: the disputed border territories of Russia will long be a stumbling block in international politics. However, Ukraine is not the only power that has claims against us. The disputed territories of Russia have been creating difficulties in international politics for many years. What states and why do they want to bite off a piece of land from us? We’ll try to figure it out.
At war
Few people know, but de jure our country is officially at war with a neighboring country. No, not with Ukraine, as many might think. Despite the loud statements of "occupation by Russia", no announcement was made by the Poroshenko regime. Aggressive rhetoric sounds only to the internal electorate.
Today we are at war with Japan for two reasons:
- Russia is officially the successors of the USSR. This means that all international legal treaties of a single Soviet republic are now directly related to us. Some say that this is unfair. Like, there were many republics, but Russia alone is responsible. But our deputies had to ask about this in the early nineties, who received the entire gold reserve of the Union and the place of permanent member in the Security Council with the right of veto on any UN decisions.
- It is we who own the lands that we inherited after the collapse of the USSR, to which the eastern neighbor claims.
What does Japan want from us?
The disputed territories of Russia and Japan are located among the Kuril Islands and on Sakhalin. The Kuril Islands include four islands that are part of our country: Iturup, Kunashir, Shikotan and the Hamobai archipelago. In 1956, the USSR was ready to transfer two islands (Hamobai and Shikotan). We ourselves wanted to leave Iturup and Kunashir, in which a powerful military infrastructure was already created, and the islands themselves are considered strategic objects. The land of the rising sun was already ready for concessions, but the United States intervened. They demanded that Japan not conclude such agreements and insisted on the return of all the islands. However, the USSR did not go for it. As a result, no one gave anything to anyone. The disputed territories of Russia and Japan are with us. Let's delve into the story. When exactly did the problem occur?
Synod treatise on friendship and trade
The disputed territories of Russia (Kuril Islands) did not always belong to us. In 1855, Nicholas I signed a trade agreement with Japan, according to which the Russian Empire has no historical claims to four disputed islands. Modern skeptics believe that this was a necessary step. Russia was drawn into the Crimean War, in which we fought immediately against all developed countries in Europe. That is, Nicholas I had to look for allies in the East, but there was nobody there except Japan. And she was still weak militarily and economically. Just started to come out of self-isolation.
The position of opponents of the transfer of the Kuril Islands is based on the fact that it was Russia that discovered these islands, which is not entirely true. The distance between them and the main Japanese territories is such that they observe each other from a telescope. There was no point in “discovering” these territories to the Japanese. They were already, in fact, open and were under their control as early as the 17th century.
Territory Exchange
The Synod treatise (1855) did not solve the question of Sakhalin. Both Japanese and Russians lived on this territory. Historically, our compatriots settled the north, and Asians - the south. As a result, Sakhalin became a joint territory, but de jure no one had any rights. The provision amended the treaty of 1875. On it all the islands in the Kuril Islands were transferred to Japan, and Sakhalin departed to our country. Thus, the historically disputed territories of Russia (Kuril Islands) should belong to the Land of the Rising Sun, if not for further events.
Russian-Japanese war
The Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905 ended with the signing of the Portsmouth Peace. According to it, Russia gave southern Sakhalin. This gives rise to the supporters of imperialism to assert that the 1905 treatise crossed out all the preceding ones. It follows that previous agreements on the transfer of the Kuril Islands may not be respected. However, the tsarist regime, the Provisional Government and the Communists in 1917 did not documentally dispute these territories.
The Second World War
The Great Patriotic War ended in May 1945. However, World War II was still ongoing. Japan was the strongest state in the Pacific after the United States. The Kwantung army in Manchuria, Korea and Mongolia totaled up to a million people with high morale. The Soviet Union agreed to transfer the army from Germany to the east, with the approval by the Allies of the reverse transfer of South Sakhalin and the disputed Kuril Islands. After the approval of the West, instead of going home and establishing a peaceful life, our grandfathers were embroiled in hostilities before September 2. Because of this, as expected, the disputed territories of Russia appeared.
Results of the confrontation with Japan
Modern pro-Western human rights defenders unanimously claim the “illegal occupation” of the Kuril Islands. Of course, historically, we can agree that they did not originally belong to our country. However, human rights activists forget that after the defeat in the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905. South Sakhalin moved to the Asian state. War often results in territorial acquisitions. If you use this principle in building international borders, then many countries must completely redraw their borders.
"Catherine, were you wrong?"
Are there disputed territories of Russia and the USA? Every Russian patriot will say - of course. Alaska, which was sold, and some even claim to have leased the allegedly Empress Catherine II. Where does this myth come from? Unclear. But the sale of Alaska took place relatively recently. In 1867, Russia sold this territory for $ 7.2 million. Of course, we can say that then it was a lot of money. But actually it is not. All territories that the United States conquered from other countries (England, Spain, Mexico) were subsequently purchased. And these amounts were twice as much - from $ 14 million. In fact, Alexander II doubled in price. However, let’s try to figure out why this was done?
Emperor Alexander announced his intentions to sell Alaska 10 years before. Historians have found correspondence with brother Konstantin. In it, the emperor consulted about the sale of North American possessions. Why did he do this? Was this necessary? Speaking objectively, then yes, since the feasibility of such an agreement is confirmed by the following facts:
- Russia's weakness in the military, economic terms. Our country physically could not gain a foothold in this territory. In addition, it was necessary to choose: to gain a foothold in America or in the Far East. The loss of both was a reality. The government correctly decided that the preservation of America with the loss of the Far East would subsequently lead to the loss of the first component.
- Gaining Strength United States. Of course, by 1867, the US itself was not going to take Alaska from Russia, as they did with Mexico, Spain and France. But the idea of “united America” was already flying in the air. Alaska was only a matter of time. By 1867, the United States was simply not up to Russia with northern territories. In addition, the expansion of the population into Alaska posed the threat of free reunification with the rest of the States by the population. In this case, Russia would not receive anything.
- Allied relations with the USA and hostility of Old Europe. Russia at that time surrounded itself with enemies. The Crimean War showed who is who. In this situation, the emperor decided to transfer the North American territories to his allies for money, since the probability of the seizure of this territory by England or France was great. Our sailing fleet could no longer withstand steamboats, especially on such remote lands from the capital.
Bottom line: Alaska was sold for half the value that the US paid to enemies after the war for accession. Conclusions suggest themselves. The United States did not really need this territory at that time either. Congress did not want to buy it. About what will happen in 100-150 years, few people thought. Nobody even guessed about the huge natural riches of this territory.
However, there are disputed territories of Russia and the USA without Alaska.
The 1867 Treaty alienated the North American lands from us, but the border sea line was not definitively defined. The parties proposed different methods of differentiation:
- Russia - Loxodrome. On the map a straight line, a bend on a plane.
- USA - orthodromy. On the map there is a bend, on the plane a straight line.
As a result, they agreed on an alternative option: the line was in the middle between the loxodrome and the orthodromy. However, this conflict has not been resolved to the end. The United States took advantage of the weakness of the USSR, and imposed a new treaty in 1990, which significantly worsened our situation in this region. But so far the treaty has not been ratified by our country, which gives the right to consider it null and void. Now this territory is considered controversial, and actions that can at least somehow aggravate relations in this territory are not taken.
However, what will happen next? Time will tell.
Disputed territories of Russia with other countries
However, Japan and the United States are not the only countries with similar problems. The presence of disputed territories with neighboring countries of Russia inhibit international cooperation. What other states have claims against us? They are actually not so few:
- Norway;
- Ukraine;
- Estonia;
- China;
- Denmark;
- Canada;
- Iceland;
- Sweden;
- Finland;
- Azerbaijan;
- Turkmenistan;
- Kazakhstan;
- Iran;
- Lithuania;
- Latvia;
- Mongolia.
The list, of course, is impressive. But why so many countries? The fact is that the disputed territories of Russia and neighboring states are not only lands, islands, but also water shelves, marine border areas. Many countries belong to the Arctic powers. Today there is a battle for a new continent. So far, only legal and scientific methods.
Battle for the Arctic
Several states are fighting for the Arctic. This is the only continent that did not participate in the colonial section. It is understandable: who needs ice? That was until the moment when mankind could not technically and economically develop new hydrocarbon deposits in the north. But the situation has changed. High oil prices, the development of science and technology made it profitable to extract gas and oil from the northern ice. Several countries were immediately drawn into the new colonial section: Russia, Canada, USA, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway. In general, those countries that directly border the Arctic.
In the south, the waters of the Caspian Sea cannot be divided by Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan.
Disputed territories of Russia and Finland: the matter is not only in the Arctic
Russia and Finland have claims not only about the Arctic. The stumbling block with the northern neighbor is Karelia. Before the Winter Campaign of 1939, the Soviet-Finnish border passed just north of St. Petersburg. The leadership of the USSR understood that in the event of an impending war this territory would be a good springboard for invading our country. After some provocations, the Winter War of 1939-1940 began.
As a result, the USSR suffered heavy casualties and was not ready for such a war. However, the result was positive: the territory of Karelia became part of the Union. Today, Finnish revenge-seekers are demanding that Russia return these lands.
"What are you, your royal face, scattered with state lands?"
I would like to recall the famous phrase from the famous comedy film. But this is no laughing matter. Until 2010, there were disputed territories of Russia and Norway in the Barents Sea. It is a pool of 175 thousand square meters. km Until 2010, the parties found a compromise: both countries are engaged in fishing here, and hydrocarbon production was banned. Everything would be fine, but geologists have found huge reserves here. And here, as they say, "blew away" our officials. Russia voluntarily abandoned 175 thousand square meters. km water fisheries in exchange for joint production of gas and oil. A short-sighted move, especially at today's low oil prices. In addition, an entire northern fishing industry was destroyed with one signature.
All for China?
Norway is not the only country that has received a generous territorial gift from us. There were disputed territories of Russia and China. In 2004, our country surrendered the disputed island of Tarabarov and part of the island of Ussuriysk to the heavenly lands. However, not all so simple. Having received one part of the territory, China immediately demands another. Now we must, according to Chinese historians, give back part of the territory in Altai and the Far East. And we will not talk about the vast territories in Transbaikalia that were leased for half a century. Today it is our territory, yet, but what will happen in 50 years? Time will tell.