US fighter jets were sent to intercept Russian warplanes near Alaska as NATO allies expressed concern over Russian intrusions. The North American Aerospace Defence Command (NORAD) reported detecting two Russian Tu-95s and two Su-35s in Alaska’s Air Defence Identification Zone. Although the Russian aircraft did not enter US or Canadian airspace, all planes in this zone are closely monitored for potential threats.
NORAD dispatched nine US aircraft, including an E-3 Sentry command and control aircraft, four F-16s, and four KC-135 tankers, to identify and intercept the Russian jets. This incident marks the ninth time this year that Russian military aircraft have been detected in the ADIZ.
Denmark officials have been investigating unidentified drones flying near Copenhagen airport, while Russian drones were shot down after crossing Polish airspace and entering Estonia’s airspace. In a similar event in September 2024, NORAD shared a video showing a Russian jet flying dangerously close to their aircraft off the coast of Alaska, prompting criticism of the Russian crew’s behavior.
Despite these incidents, Russian warplanes have not breached US or Canadian sovereign airspace. President Donald Trump recently suggested that NATO countries should shoot down Russian aircraft if they enter their airspace, though he noted that the US response would depend on the circumstances. Following a summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Trump mentioned arranging talks between Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, but Putin has shown little interest in meeting with Zelensky amidst escalating tensions with Ukraine.