The commander of US air forces in the Pacific is reporting a significant increase in activities by Russian planes and ships in the region.
Gen Herbert Carlisle linked that to the situation in the Ukraine. He said Russia was demonstrating its capabilities and gathering intelligence on US military exercises.
Carlisle said there had been long-range Russian air patrols to the coast of California and a circumnavigation of the US Pacific territory of Guam. He said an F-15 fighter jet had intercepted a Russian strategic bomber that had flown to Guam.
He also reported a drastic increase in Russian air patrols around Japanese islands and Korea.
Carlisle said there was a lot more Russian ship activity too. He was speaking yesterday at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a think-tank.
