Ajit Karn
The US military’s European Command reported on Tuesday that a Russian Su-27 jet fighter and an American MQ-9 Reaper drone collided over the Black Sea on Tuesday.
General James Hecker, commander of US Air Forces Europe and Air Forces Africa, stated, “Our MQ-9 aircraft was conducting routine operations in international airspace when it was intercepted and hit by a Russian aircraft, resulting in a crash and total loss of the MQ-9.”
In fact, this reckless and unprofessional behaviour by the Russians nearly brought down both aircraft.
Even over the Black Sea, Russian aviators have demonstrated a pattern of risky behaviour when operating in close proximity to aircraft flown by the United States and its allies, according to the American armed forces. This sea, which divides Europe and Asia, is surrounded by a number of countries, including Russia and Ukraine.
The collision occurred at a time when relations between the United States and Russia were already tense due to the Russia-Ukraine war. It is also a day after the United States disclosed specifics of a trilateral security pact with the United Kingdom and Australia (AUKUS), under which the United States will provide Australia with nuclear-capable submarines.
Earlier, Russia joined China in its opposition to the US-led security pact, with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov describing it as an expansion of NATO’s military infrastructure.
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“The Anglo-Saxon world, with the creation of structures like AUKUS and the expansion of NATO military infrastructures into Asia, is placing a serious wager on many years of confrontation,” said Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in televised remarks.
In an effort to regain public support, according to a recent report from the US Annual Threat Assessment, Russian President Vladimir Putin may drag the US-led West into the Ukraine conflict.
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