US military boosts forces in Alaska amid increased Russian activity

The U.S. military has deployed approximately 130 soldiers and mobile rocket launchers to Shemya Island in the Aleutian chain of western Alaska, responding to increased Russian military activity in the region. This move comes as eight Russian military planes and four naval vessels, including two submarines, approached American territory over the past week. While none of the aircraft breached U.S. airspace, Pentagon spokesperson Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder assured that the situation is being closely monitored but poses no immediate threat.

The deployment, part of a "force projection operation," included the transport of two High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) to the island, which is about 1,200 miles southwest of Anchorage and home to a historic U.S. Air Force air station. Additionally, U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan reported the deployment of a guided missile destroyer and a Coast Guard vessel to the area in response to joint military drills conducted by Russia and China, known as "Ocean-24," which began on September 10.

The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) confirmed it tracked Russian military aircraft operating in the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone over several days. While such incursions have fluctuated in frequency, 2023 has already seen 25 Russian planes enter the zone, following 26 in 2022.

U.S. military responses typically involve intercepting Russian planes, though no images of recent encounters were released, and it remains unclear if jets were scrambled during this latest incident. The U.S. Coast Guard's vessel, the Stratton, also monitored Russian vessels entering U.S. waters to navigate around sea ice, a movement allowed under international law.

Senator Sullivan emphasized the need for a stronger military presence in the Aleutians, calling for the reactivation of the previously closed Naval Air Facility Adak. He noted the significance of the Arctic in the ongoing strategic competition among the U.S., Russia, and China, referencing joint military exercises and increased surveillance incidents in recent years.

Source: AP News