Russian Military Ship Seen Near Alaska

A U.S. Coast Guard cutter, the Alex Haley, recently encountered a Russian ship while on routine patrol in the Aleutian Islands, according to officials. The incident occurred on Monday, approximately 30 miles southeast of the Amukta Pass, within the U.S. exclusive economic zone but in international waters. The Coast Guard did not communicate with the Russian vessel but monitored its movements as it traveled eastward, emphasizing the importance of maintaining U.S. interests in the region. Cmdr. Steven Baldovsky, commanding officer of the Alex Haley, stated, "We met presence with presence to ensure there were no disruptions to U.S. interests in the maritime environment around Alaska." This encounter is part of a broader trend, as the Coast Guard has reported several similar incidents in recent months involving foreign military vessels in the area. In July, the Coast Guard spotted four Chinese military ships in the same region, and later that month, U.S. and Canadian fighter jets intercepted two Russian and two Chinese bombers in the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ). This marked a significant moment, as it was the first instance of Russian and Chinese aircraft operating together in the Alaska ADIZ, raising concerns about increasing military cooperation between the two nations. The Alaska ADIZ, while considered international airspace, is crucial for U.S. national security, requiring identification of all aircraft. Recent months have seen heightened military activity, including the detection of Russian warplanes in the area, underscoring ongoing tensions in the region.