Russian Military Jet Flies Over US White House: Why It is ‘Routine Business’
SputnikNews.com
10.08.2017
On Wednesday, a Russian Aerospace Forces Tu-154M reconnaissance jet flew over the US Capitol, the Pentagon, CIA, Joint Base Andrews, the base of Air Force One and some other strategic objects. Russian political analysts explained to Sputnik why such a flight is nothing unusual and where the US jets prefer to go when they fly over Russian territory.
The US media was quick to report that a Russian Tu-154M had flown over “what is normally some of the most secure airspace in the nation”: the Pentagon, US Capitol, National Mall and the White House.
It also flew over the Central Intelligence Agency in Langley, Virginia, as well as Camp David and Joint Base Andrews, both in Maryland.
A second flight Wednesday afternoon shows the aircraft flying over Bedminster, New Jersey, where President Trump is taking a working vacation during White House renovations.
CNN was the first to report that the Russian flights were conducted under an agreement known as the Open Skies Treaty.
The treaty, which has been signed by 34 countries, including the United States and Russia, allows for unarmed aerial surveillance flights over the entire territory of a participating country’s territory.
Sputnik Radio discussed the issue with political analyst Yuri Svetov, who confirmed that such flights are nothing unusual under the above agreement.
The Russian flights in the United States are coordinated with the Federal Aviation Administration and carry US Air Force personnel who serve as escorts.
“With all the conflict-ridden relationship between Russia and Ukraine, Ukraine has recently performed such a flight over Russian territory, carrying Ukrainian observers. The Americans have been repeatedly flying over Russian territory, as well as Russia has flown more than once over the territory of the US,” he told Sputnik.
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