Putin Left Something in Alaska? Russian Warplanes Enter Repeatedly, Driven Away by the US
The North American Aerospace Defense Command issued a statement saying that a Russian Il-20 electronic reconnaissance aircraft entered the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone on the same day. The US urgently deployed one E-3 warning aircraft, two F-16 fighter jets, and two KC-135 refueling aircraft to intercept and visually identify the Russian aircraft.
The statement pointed out that the Russian aircraft remained in international airspace and did not enter the sovereign airspace of the United States or Canada, but this was the third time within less than a week that Russian reconnaissance aircraft were found near Alaska.
The US military said that such actions are not considered a direct threat, but the frequency is significantly higher than in previous years.
Russian forces have continuously dispatched electronic reconnaissance aircraft toward Alaska, and the timing is very delicate.
Just on August 15th, Russian President Putin and US President Trump had just held a summit in Anchorage, Alaska, trying to promote negotiations on the Ukraine issue.
In the meeting, Putin asked the US to recognize Russia's control over Donetsk, Luhansk, and Crimea, but Trump did not make any substantial commitment.
After the meeting, it seems that the Russians were generally dissatisfied, especially the show of force with bombers and fighter jets on site.
Now, Russia seems to be retaliating, using the opportunity to demonstrate its military presence in Alaska.
Analysts point out that this move by the Russian military is more like an information war, collecting data on radar, communication, and early warning systems through electronic reconnaissance aircraft, while also exerting pressure on the US.
From the scale of the North American Aerospace Defense Command's deployment, it can be seen that the US is highly vigilant about these actions.
The participation of the E-3 warning aircraft and the KC-135 refueling aircraft shows that the US military is not just conducting routine identification, but is ready to deal with larger-scale situations at any time.
Alaska is the core of the US strategic defense system, covering the Arctic route and the intercontinental missile early warning system. Any military interaction between the US and Russia in this area is regarded as a strategic signal.
Russian forces repeatedly entering the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone, even if Trump is pro-Russian, cannot pretend not to see it.
Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1841493304785927/
Statement: The article represents the views of the author.