Aggressive clashes between US and Russian forces: Moscow knows now is the right time

Seven American soldiers were injured when a Russian armored carrier began serving American patrols in northeastern Syria.

Tensions between US and Russian troops have escalated in various parts of the world in recent days. Relations between Washington and Moscow, which have already deteriorated as a result of new evidence of electoral interference, have been made even more strained by recent military clashes, writes The New York Times.

There were incidents last week at a time when critics of US President Donald Trump said he did not dispute or criticize Russia’s aggression against the West and even supported Moscow’s wishes, according to the article.

The United States is reducing its contingent in Germany by nearly 12,000. The troops, despite objections from NATO allies, are reducing the troop presence, which has long caused discontent in the Kremlin. In June, Trump invited Putin to a G7 meeting, despite Russia’s ban on such meetings of major powers following the 2014 annexation of Crimea and attacks in eastern Ukraine.

These confrontations and dangerous situations in the air, water and on the ground have occurred periodically over the past two years, inseparable from the growing rivalry and military build-up with the aftermath of the Cold War between Washington and Moscow.

But US officials say there has been an almost simultaneous increase in incidents recently, each of which increases the likelihood of accidents and errors, according to the article.

“Russia’s aggressive actions have intensified in recent months,” said KM Scaparrotti, a retired general and former high-ranking NATO commander. – I think they see an opportunity to be more aggressive as the world focuses on the coronavirus. They also know that the United States has reduced its military forces in Germany, over other frictions in the alliance. Is it the right time to put more stress on? “

When asked about last week’s incident in northeastern Syria, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said: “We are working closely with the Russians on issues such as saying this is unacceptable behavior by that the United States will respond. “

The problems in Syria started Tuesday morning, when there was a regular American patrol (at least as the Pentagon calls it) in the region near Deirik. American politicians say Russian soldiers increasingly confront American soldiers on the region’s roads, violating the two countries’ agreement not to approach each other.

On August 24, there was another encounter between US and Russian forces near Derik (Malikiya). Russian helicopters flew over the American convoypic.twitter.com/uFsX0rVa5v

– Wladimir (@vvanwilgenburg) August 26, 2020

The United States withdrew its forces from much of the region before an attack on Turkish border guards last fall. Video of the collision, which appeared on Twitter Wednesday, shows Russian and American vehicles driving rapidly in an open area, with a Russian car colliding with an American car and a Russian helicopter flying low over American forces.

Videos taken by the Russian Defense Ministry’s Zvezda television channel of the abandoned US base near Manbij. The Russian journalists were escorted to the base by the Russian military police. Https://t.co/tymCrxk2M0 pic.twitter.com/5N3xolmlXO

– Rob Lee (@ RALee85) Oct 19, 2019

“After this collision, a barn arose, mutual reproaches between the two countries. Such unsafe and unprofessional actions violate conflict resolution protocols that the United States and Russia committed to in 2019. John Ullyot, a spokesman for the White House National Security Council, said Wednesday.

The next day, representatives of the Pentagon and the United States Central Command condemned Russia’s actions even more strongly. The Russians “continued to aggressively and irresponsibly pursue the coalition convoys, hit the American vehicle from the side and the Russian helicopter flew extremely low,” did not use established communication channels and did not request to cross the safe zone in the east. from Syria near Deirik.

He said seven American soldiers had been treated for a concussion at his base in Syria, after which he promptly returned to service.

The Pentagon statement was very different from the Russian data. In a telephone conversation with General Mark A. Milley, chairman of the Committee of Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Chief of Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, Valery Gerasimov, said in a telephone conversation shortly after the incident that US troops they had tried to block a Russian patrol, “in violation of existing agreements.”

During the conversation, Gerasimov told General Milley that the coalition commanders knew in advance that Russian troops would pass through the area, according to the report.

A spokesman for General M. Milley confirmed that he had spoken with a Russian colleague, but declined to reveal the details of the call.

According to the North American Air and Space Defense Command, 5,000 on Thursday. miles away, the competition intensified again when F-22 fighters took control of six Russian Tu-142 anti-aircraft aircraft flying some 50 nautical miles off the coast of Alaska in international airspace.

While Russia sometimes drops military aircraft into the area, outside of US and Canadian airspace, and these intrusions are generally welcomed by US or Canadian aircraft to control Russian aircraft, US officials say the number of such Flights has increased in recent months, according to the article.

Lt. Gen. Glen D. VanHerck, commander of the North American Air and Space Defense Command, said more than 10 such sorties had taken place this year, more than in recent years.

The next day, Friday, the United States demonstrated its power by flying four B-52 bombers to NATO countries in Europe. The head-to-head action continued as two Russian Su-27 fighters repeatedly flew just 100 feet in front of one of the B-52s, which the US military said was unsafe and unprofessional. The resulting turbulence limited the B-52’s maneuverability, according to the report.

Denmark said on Tuesday it had asked the Russian ambassador to investigate an airspace violation last week by a Russian fighter jet during a NATO exercise in the country.

“I take the unacceptable violation of Danish airspace by Russia very seriously. It is absolutely essential that everyone, including Russia, abide by the basic rules and international principles,” Foreign Minister Jeppe Kofod said in a statement.

“This message was transmitted today to the Russian ambassador. It has been made clear that this must not happen again,” he added.

NATO has also condemned Russia’s aggressive behavior.

The incident took place last Friday on the Danish island of Bornholm in the Baltic Sea. The Alliance indicated that the Russian Su-27 fighter had seized the US B-52 strategic bomber and flown it quite far into Danish airspace over the island.

The US aircraft participated in the training, during which six B-52s flew over 30 NATO members in one day. They were accompanied or involved in other maneuvers by some 80 combatants from various Alliance countries.

The bloc’s statement said that such a “significant violation of NATO airspace” was “the first in a few years and reflects a new level of behavior brought on by Russia.”

Independent Kremlin policy analysts say Russian provocations are likely to continue unless the Trump administration takes more aggressive action.

“Russia is always behaving a little bit across borders and waiting for a response,” said Alina Poliakova, executive director of the Center for European Policy Analysis in Washington. “This persistent pattern of Russian behavior means that we have not anticipated serious consequences to prevent an escalation in all areas in which the Russians seek to harm the interests of the United States.”