(StraightNews.org) – The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) has tracked Russian warplanes near Alaska. The aircraft was seen inside the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ), which stretches 150 miles from the US coast. NORAD released a statement, however, saying the planes stayed within international boundaries and did not enter American or Canadian airspace. “This Russian activity in the Alaska ADIZ occurs regularly and is not seen as a threat,” the statement read.
Russia confirmed the presence of its aircraft in the area and said these were Tu-95 bombers that flew for nine hours accompanied by SU-30SM fighter jets. Lieutenant General Sergei Kobylash said the flights were carried out in strict accordance with international law.
Even though these exercises were not considered a threat, rising tensions between the US and Russia have caused some activities in the region to make headlines. When Russian and Chinese warships were spotted in the area last August, the US sent a group of destroyers to patrol internal US waters nearby. GOP Alaska Senator Dan Sullivan described the size of the Chinese-Russian fleet as “unprecedented.”
US Northern Command officials said they did not consider the patrol a threat, but an American show of force was necessary.
A similar encounter occurred in September 2022 when Chinese and Russian ships patrolled international waters near the Alaska coast. China said it was part of its regular cooperation with Russia and unrelated to geopolitical issues.
The Chinese government has an official non-alliance policy, but its relationship with Russia comes close, analysts say. China has provided a lifeline to Russia in the face of international isolation following its invasion of Ukraine and is a lucrative trading partner.
Experts say the two powers undoubtedly share a bond based on mutual hostility with the West. China has stopped short of endorsing or condoning Russia’s Ukraine invasion but blamed NATO for pushing the Kremlin to “breaking point.” The Chinese government has also called on Ukraine to “soften its stance.”
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