St. Petersburg, July 29, 2024, The Europe Today: Russia’s recent patrol flights in international airspace are a direct response to the heightened activity of US aircraft near Russian airspace and in regions deemed “sensitive” by Moscow, President Vladimir Putin stated on Sunday.
During a speech at the annual Navy Day parade in St. Petersburg, Putin addressed the joint air patrols conducted by Russian and Chinese bombers over the Chukchi and Bering Seas, as well as the North Pacific, on Wednesday. These patrols, which approached the coast of Alaska, did not enter US airspace. However, Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin expressed Washington’s concern regarding this development.
Austin noted that this marked the first instance of Chinese nuclear-capable bomber aircraft flying within the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone and the first time Chinese and Russian jets had taken off from the same base in northeastern Russia.
Putin emphasized that Russia has conducted patrols in international airspace since 2007. “This was our response to the increased activity of US strategic and reconnaissance aviation in regions of the world that Russia considers sensitive. This measure is aimed, among other things, at ensuring security in the Asia-Pacific region,” he stated. He further asserted that Washington’s actions have made these patrols necessary.
Russian aircraft frequently conduct patrol flights near American airspace, while also monitoring US and NATO flights near its own airspace. Russia has dispatched jets to escort fighters and bombers from NATO member states away from its borders on numerous occasions in recent years.
As strategic allies, Russia and China regularly carry out joint patrols over the Asia-Pacific region. This week’s exercise was the eighth joint air strategic patrol conducted by the two nations since 2019, according to Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson Zhang Xiaogang. Speaking to reporters on Thursday, he stressed that the operation was “not directed at any third party.” The Russian Defense Ministry confirmed that the patrol was conducted in accordance with international law.
