US Protests 'Unsafe' Action of Russian Fighter Jet

The United States claims that a Russian military fighter jet approached a US Navy electronic surveillance aircraft over the Black Sea in an 'unsafe' manner. According to Washington, the Russian fighter jet came within 1.5 meters of the US aircraft on January 29 and then passed directly in front of it. In a statement released by the US State Department, Russia has been urged to reduce its 'unsafe actions, which could pose a risk of miscalculation, endanger the flight crews of both countries, and lead to an aviation accident.' Hours before the US State Department's statement, the US Navy announced that an 'EP-3 Aries II' aircraft, which was flying in international airspace over the Black Sea, ended its mission prematurely following the incident. The Lockheed EP-3 is an electronic surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft used by the US Navy and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force. The Russian Ministry of Defense also issued a statement on Monday regarding the incident over the Black Sea, stating that one of its Su-27 jets 'intercepted a US EP-3 aircraft.' According to Moscow, 'all precautionary measures' were taken during the incident. Nevertheless, the US Navy's statement emphasized that 'Russia must act in accordance with international standards to prevent accidents and ensure safety.' In recent years, various incidents involving Russian military aircraft and NATO forces have been reported over Syria, the Black Sea, the Baltic Sea, and other regions. Since Russia annexed the Crimean Peninsula, it has increased its presence in the Black Sea region.