Two Nuclear Capable Russian Aircraft Entered American Airspace Before Being Intercepted By U.S.

Source: Newsweek

Two nuclear-capable Russian aircraft encroached close to American airspace on Friday, forcing Canadian and U.S. fighter jets to scramble and intercept the planes.

The Russian Tu-160 Blackjack strategic bombers entered an area patrolled by Canada’s Royal Air Force on Friday, close to Alaska, The Independent reported. The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) revealed the incident on Saturday, saying that two U.S. F-22 and two Canadian CF-18 intercepted the Russian planes, escorting them away from the zone.

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Similar encounters have increased between NATO aircraft and those of the Russian military in recent years, according to Radio Free Europe. Under President Vladimir Putin’s leadership, Russia has worked to expand its military power and pushed back more strongly against the U.S. and NATO.

Tensions remain high between Washington and Moscow over a range of international issues. The U.S. is also poised to officially withdraw from the Cold War-era Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces Treaty, which was signed in 1987 between former President Ronald Reagan and the Soviet Union’s Mikhail Gorbachev. Washington and NATO have alleged that Moscow’s 9M729 nuclear-capable cruise missile system violates the terms of the deal. Russia has disagreed and refused to destroy the defense system.

Read more: https://www.newsweek.com/nuclear-russian-aircraft-encroached-american-airspace-1306831

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I wonder whether Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders still want to scale back NATO or have Russia be invited to be part of NATO because it is too expensive?