US Coast Guard Finds Russian Ship Near Alaska

JUNEAU, Alaska – A U.S. Coast Guard cutter, the Alex Haley, encountered a Russian ship during a routine patrol in the Aleutian Islands on Monday. The vessel was located approximately 30 miles southeast of the Amukta Pass, within the U.S. exclusive economic zone, which extends 200 nautical miles from the shoreline. The Coast Guard confirmed the sighting in a statement released on Friday, noting that a helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak also observed the Russian ship. While the Coast Guard cutter did not establish communication with the Russian vessel, it monitored its movements as it traveled eastward. Cmdr. Steven Baldovsky, commanding officer of the Alex Haley, emphasized the importance of maintaining a presence in the region to safeguard U.S. interests in the maritime environment surrounding Alaska. This incident follows a similar occurrence in July when the Coast Guard spotted four Chinese military ships in the same area. The growing military cooperation between Russia and China has raised concerns among U.S. defense officials. In a notable development, Russian and Chinese bombers conducted joint flights in international airspace off Alaska's coast for the first time, prompting U.S. and Canadian fighter jets to track and intercept them. This marked a significant moment, as it was the first instance of Chinese bombers operating within the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone, highlighting the evolving dynamics in the region.