Write a very short note on Russo-Japanese War.

The Russo-Japanese War, fought between the Russian Empire and the Empire of Japan from 1904 to 1905, was a pivotal conflict that transformed the global balance of power and had far-reaching consequences for both nations involved. The primary catalyst for the war was their imperialist competition over territorial and strategic interests in East Asia, particularly in Korea and Manchuria.

The conflict began with a surprise Japanese attack on the Russian naval fleet at Port Arthur in 1904 and subsequent land engagements in Manchuria. The war showcased Japan's military modernization, marked by its victory at the Battle of Tsushima in 1905, a decisive naval engagement that resulted in the near annihilation of the Russian fleet.

The Treaty of Portsmouth, brokered by U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt in 1905, concluded the war and affirmed Japan's emergence as a major global power. Japan gained recognition for its territorial acquisitions, including the southern half of Sakhalin Island and control over Korea, signaling a shift in the balance of power in East Asia. The Russo-Japanese War marked the first time an Asian nation defeated a European power in modern times, challenging prevailing notions of Western military superiority and influencing subsequent geopolitical developments in the region.