During a routine patrol in Alaska’s Aleutian Islands, the US Coast Guard saw a Russian ship operating within the US exclusive economic zone. About thirty miles southeast of the Amukta Pass, the US Coast Guard Cutter Alex Haley discovered the vessel on Monday. The Coast Guard helicopter personnel from Air Station Kodiak spotted the ship.
According to the statement, the Russian tanker traveled through international waters. However, it remained within the United States Exclusive Economic Zone, 200 nautical miles from the US coast. The Russian ship continued east, and the Coast Guard followed its movements even though they were not in contact with it. Cmdr. Steven Baldovsky, commanding officer of the Alex Haley, emphasized that the Coast Guard’s response was to ensure that US interests in the maritime environment around Alaska were not disrupted.
This incident follows a similar situation in July when the US Coast Guard saw four Chinese military ships north of the Amchitka Pass, also in international waters but within the US EEZ. Furthermore, later that month, Russian and Chinese bombers conducted simultaneous sorties over international airspace off the coast of Alaska. These flights marked the initial time that Chinese bombers entered the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone, demonstrating unprecedented military collaboration between Russia and China.
The US Coast Guard ‘s observation of the Russian ship underscores the importance of vigilantly monitoring foreign military activities near US borders and protecting maritime interests.
