NATO and Russia clash over U.S. bombers’ training flight through Finnish airspace
NATO and Russia are at odds regarding the events surrounding the encounter between U.S. and Russian aircraft on Sunday. Two U.S. B-52 Stratofortress bombers flew through Finnish airspace yesterday, which the Finnish Defense Forces indicated was part of a training flight, heading south from the north.
Russia responded swiftly to the movements of the U.S. aircraft. According to the Russian Defense Ministry, fighter jets were dispatched to intercept the U.S. planes as they approached the border over the Barents Sea. The Russian account states that the American aircraft changed course and exited the area upon noticing the approaching Russian jets.
However, NATO disputes this version of events. The alliance asserts that the bombers did not alter their course. On Monday, NATO released further information about the flight, confirming that the U.S. planes encountered two Russian aircraft over the Barents Sea around 8 AM Central European Time, which is approximately 9 AM Finnish time. According to NATO, the B-52s maintained their flight path and did not change course despite Russia’s claims.
NATO also stated that the aircraft continued on their scheduled flight plan without any incidents and ultimately landed at Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base in Romania. The alliance emphasized that the U.S. aircraft operated within international airspace, in accordance with international agreements, meaning they did not violate Russian airspace at any point.