Wed Sep 18 03:53:00 UTC 2024: ## US Deploys Troops and Rocket Launchers to Alaska Amid Russian Military Activity
**ANCHORAGE, Alaska** – The U.S. military has deployed approximately 130 soldiers and mobile rocket launchers to Shemya Island in the Aleutian chain, following an increase in Russian military activity near Alaskan waters and airspace. The move comes as Russia and China conduct joint military drills in the Pacific and Arctic oceans.
Over the past week, eight Russian military planes and four naval vessels, including two submarines, have operated close to Alaska. While none of the planes entered U.S. airspace, the Pentagon has confirmed that they are closely monitoring the situation.
“It’s not the first time that we’ve seen the Russians and the Chinese flying, you know, in the vicinity, and that’s something that we obviously closely monitor, and it’s also something that we’re prepared to respond to,” said Pentagon spokesperson Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder.
The Army deployed soldiers and two High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) to Shemya Island on September 12th, as part of a force projection operation. Additionally, the U.S. Navy has deployed a guided missile destroyer, and the Coast Guard has sent a vessel to the western region of Alaska.
The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) has tracked Russian military planes operating off Alaska over a four-day period, with two planes detected each day from September 11th to September 15th. The planes operated in the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone, which is beyond U.S. sovereign airspace but requires aircraft to identify themselves.
While the Russian Embassy in the U.S. has not yet responded to requests for comment, NORAD has stated that the number of such incursions fluctuates yearly. The average is six to seven intercepts per year, but 26 Russian planes entered the Alaska zone last year, and 25 have been detected so far this year.
The U.S. Coast Guard also reported tracking four Russian Federation Navy vessels, including two submarines, a frigate, and a tugboat, approximately 60 miles northwest of Point Hope, Alaska. The vessels had crossed the maritime boundary into U.S. waters to avoid sea ice, which is permitted under international rules.
Despite the increase in Russian military activity, Pentagon officials maintain that the situation does not pose a threat to the U.S. However, Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) has called for a larger military presence in the Aleutians and advocated for a strong U.S. response to Russia and China.
Sullivan has also proposed that the U.S. Navy reopen its shuttered base at Adak, located in the Aleutians, citing the growing geopolitical tensions in the Arctic region.
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