NATO responds to Russian military activity with air and sea operations

[RYAN ROBERTSON]
NATO FORCES WERE ON HIGH ALERT OVER THE WEEKEND — ENGAGING IN SOPHISTICATED MONITORING OF RUSSIAN MILITARY MANEUVERS CLOSE TO WESTERN TERRITORIES.

ON SATURDAY — A RUSSIAN SPY PLANE — EQUIPPED FOR ELECTRONIC INTELLIGENCE BUT UNRESPONSIVE TO RADIO CONTACT — BREACHED INTERNATIONAL NORMS BY ENTERING THE BALTIC SEA AIRSPACE WITHOUT A FLIGHT PLAN.

IN RESPONSE — GERMAN AND SWEDISH FIGHTER JETS INTERCEPTED THE INTRUDING CRAFT — A ROUTINE YET ESSENTIAL ACTION FOR NATO’S ONGOING AIR POLICING MISSIONS AIMED AT SAFEGUARDING THE AIRSPACE OVER THIS GEOPOLITICALLY SENSITIVE REGION.

THE BALTIC SEA INCIDENT HAPPENED ONE DAY AFTER ANOTHER — IN THE NORTH PACIFIC — IT WAS A SIMILARLY TENSE SCENE–BUT AGAIN, THE RESPONSE WAS MANAGED WITH PRECISION.
THE U.S. COAST GUARD CUTTER ALEX HALEY ENCOUNTERED A RUSSIAN VISHNYA-CLASS INTELLIGENCE SHIP WITHIN THE U.S. EXCLUSIVE ECONOMIC ZONE NEAR ALASKA’S ALEUTIAN ISLANDS.

OPTING FOR SURVEILLANCE OVER DIRECT CONTACT — THE ALEX HALEY MONITORED THE RUSSIAN VESSEL’S EASTWARD JOURNEY. THESE AREAS ARE BECOMING HOTSPOTS FOR MILITARY AND RESEARCH ACTIVITIES BY RUSSIA AND CHINA —

TOGETHER — THESE INCIDENTS show THE DELICATE BALANCE OF INTERNATIONAL MILITARY DIPLOMACY — HIGHLIGHTING THE CRUCIAL ROLE OF SURVEILLANCE — READINESS AND ADHERENCE TO INTERNATIONAL LAW…BECAUSE ONE WRONG MOVE MADE BY EITHER SIDE COULD BE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN STARTING A WAR–OR MAINTAINING THE STATUS QUO.

FOR MORE OF OUR UNBIASED — STRAIGHT FACT REPORTING — DOWNLOAD THE STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS APP OR VISIT US AT SAN – DOT – COM.