Russian military flights near US raise concern

Washington (AFP) – The United States on Thursday said Russia had boosted its military flights near US shores and brusquely warned Moscow to abide by international law.

Washington’s concerns came only days after a European think tank warned that since Russia annexed Ukraine’s southern Crimea peninsula earlier this year, “the intensity and gravity of incidents involving Russian and Western militaries and security agencies has visibly increased.”

The European Leadership Network detailed at least nine incidents over the past few months of either near misses between Russian and North American aircraft or cases where Russian planes have been observed close to US territory.

In early September, Russian strategic bombers near Canada practiced cruise missile strikes on the United States, although they stayed outside of Canada’s air defense zone.

“While we recognize the need for routine military training activity, we have noticed an increase in the number of these flights near North…