Russia is mobilizing for the spring offensive in Ukraine and sending ominous warnings to the West. On Monday, February 13, the United States intercepted four Russian warplanes in the vicinity of Alaska. North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) reportedly detected Russian aircraft, including TU-95 BEAR-H bombers and an SU-35 fighter jet, operating within the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ). NORAD officials said they anticipated Russian activity and quickly sent two F-16 fighter jets to intercept Russian aircraft. Two F-35 fighters, an E-3 Sentry and two KC-135 Stratotankers were also sent to the area. NORAD emphasized that the incident is in no way related to objects spotted and shot down over North American skies last week.
In response, the Kremlin released its version of the operation through the Ministry of Defense’s social media: “Two Tu-160 long-range missile transport planes perform a routine flight over the neutral waters of the Barents and Norwegian Seas. The flight lasted more than 13 hours”, reads the publication which also explains that previously, the two Tu-95MS had carried out a flight of more than seven hours “over the neutral waters of the Bering Sea”, between Russia and the U.S.
This episode is destined to heighten tension between the US and the Russian Federation, while Western secret services are sounding alarm bells about Vladimir Putin’s manoeuvres. According to the Financial Times, Russia is accumulating warplanes on the border with Ukraine, a circumstance that, however, was denied by the military authorities in Washington. On the other hand, the Norwegian intelligence alert reporting Russian warships with nuclear weapons in the Baltic Sea was not denied.
Source: IL Tempo
John Cameron is a journalist at The Nation View specializing in world news and current events, particularly in international politics and diplomacy. With expertise in international relations, he covers a range of topics including conflicts, politics and economic trends.
