A U.S. Coast Guard cutter encountered a Russian military vessel during routine patrols earlier this week in the region. The crew of U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Alex Haley (WMEC 39) spotted the Russian Federation Vishnya-class naval vessel around 30 nautical miles southeast of Amukta Pass, Alaska. The Russian vessel was transiting in international waters but still inside the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone.
An HC-130 aircraft from Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak provided aerial support and confirmed the presence of the Russian vessel. The crew of the Alex Haley monitored the Russian vessel without initiating communication as it moved eastward.
Cmdr. Steven Baldovsky, commanding officer of the Alex Haley, stated, “We met presence with presence to ensure there were no disruptions to U.S. interests in the maritime environment around Alaska.” The patrol was part of Operation Frontier Sentinel, aimed at responding to the activities of strategic competitors in U.S. waters.
The monitoring of foreign vessels in the region is not uncommon, with recent encounters involving foreign military activity around Alaska. The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Kimball encountered four Chinese military ships in the Bering Sea on July 6, with the Chinese ships conducting “freedom of navigation operations.”
A later encounter on July 24 saw U.S. and Canadian military forces intercepting Russian and Chinese strategic bombers flying together near the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone. The activity was confirmed by Russia’s Ministry of Defense and NORAD, stating that the foreign aircraft did not enter U.S. or Canadian airspace.
The Department of Defense emphasizes the critical role of the Arctic in U.S. national defense and sovereignty.
Tom Omizek contributed to this report.
