The U.S. military recently deployed around 130 soldiers and mobile rocket launchers to Shemya Island in the Aleutian chain of Alaska in response to increased Russian military activity near American territory. Despite recent Russian military planes and navy vessels approaching Alaska, the Pentagon stated there was no cause for alarm as none breached U.S. airspace.
Army soldiers were sent to Shemya Island with High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems as part of a force projection operation due to joint military exercises conducted by Russia and China in the Pacific and Arctic oceans. Furthermore, a guided missile destroyer and a Coast Guard vessel were also deployed to the western region of Alaska.
Russian military planes have been detected and tracked off the coast of Alaska, with NORAD reporting multiple instances of Russian aircraft operating in the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone. These incursions are monitored closely by the U.S. military, with the average number of intercepts being six to seven yearly.
While encounters between Russian and American military planes often result in photo releases, none were made public during the recent spike in Russian military activity near Alaska. The U.S. Coast Guard also tracked Russian navy vessels in U.S. waters, which is permitted under international rules to avoid sea ice.
Senator Dan Sullivan of Alaska called for an increased military presence in the Aleutian region and emphasized the importance of responding with strength to Russian and Chinese military activities near U.S. shores. Sullivan proposed reopening the U.S. Navy base at Adak in the Aleutians, which was closed in 1997. The U.S. continues to monitor and respond to the evolving situation in the region.
