The North American Aerospace Defense Command,
also known as NORAD, says it intercepted two Russian and
two Chinese bombers flying near Alaska.
The intercept was carried out by US and Canadian fighter
jets.
NORAD says the bombers remained in international airspace and were
not seen as a threat.
China and Russia have confirmed that they had conducted a
joint air patrol over the Bering Sea,
which divides Russia and Alaska.
NORAD says it will continue to monitor competitor activity.
Near North America and meet,
quote, presence with presence. This was not a surprise to
us.
We closely monitored these aircraft,
tracked the aircraft, intercepted the aircraft and which demonstrates that
our,
you know, our forces are at the ready all the
time and we have we have very good surveillance capabilities
and it's the first time that we've seen these two
countries fly together and they didn't.
Enter our airspace.
I think the closest point of approach was about 200
miles off the off of our.
Coast so, but this is a thing that that we
track very closely.
We're able to intercept and it and if it happens
again,
if there is any kind of a challenge from from
any direction,
I have every confidence that the at the Northcom and
NORAD will will be at the ready and will be
able to intercept in terms of the relationship between the
Russia and China. This is a relationship that we have
been concerned about throughout most mostly because we're concerned about
China providing support to Russia's illegal and unnecessary war in
Ukraine. And we've seen evidence of that.
And we would hope that that would that would cease
going forward.
We'll see what happens and how this relationship continues to
to develop.
We will remain focused on protecting the homeland here,
and again, I applaud the efforts of Northcom and our
great Airmen.
Who are always at the ready as to whether or
not our adversaries are testing us at this particular time.
They're always testing us. And,
and that's no surprise to any of us.
We we see activity in the North.
On a number of occasions,
and we are always at the ready to to address
that activity.