Reporter Lara Seligman covers the Pentagon for Politico and broke a story about a mid-air collusion in international waters above the Black Sea.
BREAKING: This morning, a Russian Su-27 aircraft struck the propeller of a U.S. MQ-9 drone, causing U.S. forces to have to bring the MQ-9 down in international waters, according to @US_EUCOM.
— Lara Seligman (@laraseligman) March 14, 2023
According to reports, on March 14, 2023, a Russian Su-27 struck the propeller of a US MQ-9 drone. The collision forced the drone to crash into the Black Sea. Military officials reported that the Su-27 pilot was harassing the drone and dumped fuel on it.
"Several times before the collision, the Su-27s dumped
fuel on and flew in front of the MQ-9 in a reckless, environmentally unsound and unprofessional manner. This incident demonstrates a lack of competence in addition to being unsafe and unprofessional."
"Several times before the collision, the Su-27s dumped
fuel on and flew in front of the MQ-9 in a reckless, environmentally unsound and unprofessional manner. This incident demonstrates a lack of competence
in addition to being unsafe and unprofessional."— Lara Seligman (@laraseligman) March 14, 2023
Officials reported that Russian pilots have become more aggressive with "Allied aircraft over international airspace."
This "follows a pattern of dangerous actions by Russian pilots while interacting w/ U.S. & Allied aircraft over international airspace, including over the Black Sea. These aggressive actions by Russian aircrew are dangerous & could lead to miscalculation & unintended escalation."
— Lara Seligman (@laraseligman) March 14, 2023
But it was what Biden did after the Russian jet collusion that is most concerning.
The President has ordered the State Department to summon US-Russian Ambassador Anatoly Antonov back to the US in response to the collision.
Which is going to enflame tensions between the two countries further.
Biden continues playing games of chicken with a nuclear power. Where does this end?
— No Bailouts Poso 🚫💰 (@JackPosobiec) March 14, 2023