- The Russian flights are, above all, indicators of Russian intentions.
- should never be seen as a reliable ally, even against Islamic State or China
Between Tuesday and Friday, Russia nightly flew warplanes, including a pair of nuclear-capable Tu-95 Bear bombers,
into the U.S. air defense identification zone (ADIZ). On Wednesday
night, Russia flew two IL-38 anti-submarine planes into the U.S. ADIZ.
On the other three nights, Russia flew the bombers. In response, U.S.
and Canadian fighters intercepted the bombers on two of those nights.
Russia is likely trying to intimidate President Trump and the American
people on a number of issues.
Earlier this month, Trump ordered a cruise missile attack on Russia’s ally, Syria, for its alleged use of chemical weapons. Trump is also threatening Russia’s ally
North Korea for its nuclear weapons development. On the back-burner is
the Trump Administration’s criticism of Russia’s ally China, including
China’s aggressive actions on the South China Sea, East China Sea, Himalayas, Taiwan, and in support of North Korean missile development.
The Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group, including an aircraft carrier, two destroyers and a guided missile cruiser, is currently past Indonesia and moving toward the Korean Peninsula. Some experts think Trump could launch an attack on the North’s nuclear and missile development sites if North Korea fails to make dramatic moves toward denuclearization.
The White House and Russia’s embassy in Washington sought to downplay
the Russian flights. Nevertheless, they act as rare veiled nuclear
threats, a form of nuclear brinkmanship last utilized by Russia against
the U.S. in 2015.
Any nuclear threat must be taken seriously. The Russian flights are, above all, indicators of Russian intentions. That Russia would threaten the U.S. with nuclear weapons is a tragedy. That Russia would do so to prop up authoritarian leaders as morally bankrupt as Assad or Kim Jong Un is telling. The flights prove a lack of coordination between President Putin of Russia, and President Trump. Any hope that President Trump might have been warming to Russia to better deter China is now dashed.
Unfortunately, the nuclear-capable flights confirm that Putin cannot be trusted. As long as Russia is an autocratic country, it should never be seen as a reliable ally, even against Islamic State or China . And, Russia should be told unequivocally that America will never be intimidated. Hopefully the U.S. and allied fighter jets sent up against the Russian bombers conveyed that message.
The Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group, including an aircraft carrier, two destroyers and a guided missile cruiser, is currently past Indonesia and moving toward the Korean Peninsula. Some experts think Trump could launch an attack on the North’s nuclear and missile development sites if North Korea fails to make dramatic moves toward denuclearization.
Any nuclear threat must be taken seriously. The Russian flights are, above all, indicators of Russian intentions. That Russia would threaten the U.S. with nuclear weapons is a tragedy. That Russia would do so to prop up authoritarian leaders as morally bankrupt as Assad or Kim Jong Un is telling. The flights prove a lack of coordination between President Putin of Russia, and President Trump. Any hope that President Trump might have been warming to Russia to better deter China is now dashed.
Unfortunately, the nuclear-capable flights confirm that Putin cannot be trusted. As long as Russia is an autocratic country, it should never be seen as a reliable ally, even against Islamic State or China . And, Russia should be told unequivocally that America will never be intimidated. Hopefully the U.S. and allied fighter jets sent up against the Russian bombers conveyed that message.
