In a recent development that is likely to escalate tensions between the United States and Russia, the Pentagon has released shocking footage showing a Russian aircraft apparently dumping fuel on a US drone. The incident is said to have taken place earlier this week over the eastern Mediterranean, with US officials saying that the Russian plane’s irresponsible actions could have had serious consequences for the safety of US personnel. The video has sparked a flurry of reactions, with many analysts speculating about the possible motivations behind the Russian plane’s behavior. In this article, we will delve deeper into the story and explore some of the key issues at play.
The US Department of Defense has accused a Russian Su-27 aircraft of pouring fuel on an MQ-9 surveillance drone and then clipping its propeller while it was in international airspace over the Black Sea. In a 42-second video released by the Pentagon, the Russian fighter jet can be seen approaching the back of the MQ-9 drone, then releasing fuel as it passes, seemingly to blind its optical instruments in order to force it out of the area. The fighter jet then returned and struck the drone’s propeller, damaging it. The US military controlled the drone until it landed in the water.
Russia denied striking the drone, stating that it crashed after making a sharp manoeuvre over the sea. Russia’s secretary of Security Council, Nikolai Patrushev, announced they would search the water for drone fragments. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that the decision would be made by the military, adding that “If they consider it necessary to do so in the Black Sea for the benefit of our interests and our security, they will do it”. The US expects that nothing of military value would remain from the drone even if debris was located.
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman General Mark Milley have discussed the drone’s destruction with their Russian counterparts, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, and General Valery Gerasimov. These calls were the first between the nations since October. While attempts at aircraft intercepting one another happen frequently, the incident has raised concerns that it could hasten direct conflict with Russia.
The Russian Defense Ministry stated in a report on the call with the US that they accused the US of having provoked the incident, as the Kremlin had imposed flight restrictions for reasons related to its operations in Ukraine. The Ministry also claimed US intelligence activities were more intense, working against the interests of Russia. They warned that this, combined with earlier US actions, “are fraught with escalation of the situation in the Black Sea area,” and cautioning that Russia “will respond in kind to all provocations”.
Overall, the incident does little to reduce the tension between the US and Russia. It is a worrying situation given the recent months of disputes between the two nations, such as acts of cyber-espionage and the poisoning of Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny. Both the US and Russia have a history of increasing their military presence in or around the Black Sea, which raises the potential for a dangerous miscalculation. While some reports suggest that Russia might have damaged the drone to test the US, it is unlikely such testing would happen because it puts both nations at risk of conflict.
