North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) said on Wednesday that US and Canadian fighter jets intercepted two Russian and two Chinese bombers operating in Alaska’s Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ).
An ADIZ is an area that extends far beyond territorial waters and airspace where the US wants foreign aircraft to identify themselves. Alaska’s ADIZ is a massive area that extends near Russia’s coast, where Russian aircraft routinely operate.
A US official told Air & Space Forces Magazine that the incident marked the first time the Russian and Chinese militaries entered the area together. Russia and China have been increasing joint military cooperation in recent years, a reaction to the increasing military pressure both nations face from the West.
Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman Zhang Xiaogang confirmed on Thursday that China and Russia conducted a joint patrol over the Bering Sea. “This is the eighth air strategic joint patrol organized by the two militaries since 2019. It further tested and improved coordination between two air forces and deepened strategic mutual trust and substantive cooperation,” he said, according to The South China Morning Post.
“This operation did not target any third parties and was in line with relevant international law and practice and had nothing to do with the current international or regional situation,” Zhang added.
It’s unclear how far off Alaska’s coast the interception occurred, but NORAD said it was beyond Alaska’s airspace. “The Russian and PRC [People’s Republic of China] aircraft remained in international airspace and did not enter American or Canadian sovereign airspace,” said NORAD, which is a joint US-Canadian military command.
“This Russian and PRC activity in the Alaska ADIZ is not seen as a threat, and NORAD will continue to monitor competitor activity near North America and meet presence with presence,” NORAD added.
The incident occurred a few days after Russia said it intercepted two American B-52 bombers near its territorial border over the Barents Sea in the Arctic. Such incidents are likely to occur more often since Finland and Sweden joined NATO, making every Arctic nation except for Russia a member of the alliance. The Pentagon also released a new Arctic strategy this week calling for an increased military presence in the region.
The Military wants more money for the Artic, so what exactly is the truth here?
Morning G-Woman! Excellent question that you offer all of us. Perhaps and indeed, I would suggest, whole heartedly, Peace Talks are a necessity!!!
You know the answer to your question…!
A couple more bases to pollute the ground with leaking tanks of jet fuel.
BFD. During the Soviet era, our bombers would go right up to the border of the Soviet Union, and likewise, the Soviet bombers would do the same. Then there was Open Skies, that had been in operation since the Eisenhower administration. The supposed "peace maker, the fellow who said he would stop the war in Ukraine, pulled the U.S. out of the agreement. For good measure, he pulled out of the INF treaty.