Lloyd Austin and Russian counterpart speak after fighter jet hits US drone

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin Sergey Shoigu, Russian Defense Minister, spoke to me about the collision of a Russian fighter pilot with a U.S. drone.

Two Su-27 Russian aircraft poured fuel on an American U.S. Air Force MQ-9 unmanned aircraft flew several times Tuesday morning, before one crashed into its propeller above the Black Sea. The U.S. military had to crash-land it in the water and it isn’t clear if it will be able to retrieve the drone.

RUSSIAN AIRCRAFT COLLIDES OVER UNMANNED US DRONE

Austin said the following in a Wednesday press conference: “I just got off the phone with my Russian counterpart, Minister Shoigu. As I’ve said repeatedly, it’s important that great powers be models of transparency and communication.”

“The United States will fly and operate wherever international law allows,” He stated. “Now we take any potential for escalation very seriously, and that’s why I believe it’s important to keep the lines of communication open. I think it’s really key that we’re able to pick up the phone and engage each other, and I think that that will help to prevent miscalculation going forward.”

Gen. Mark MilleyThe chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said the intercept was intentional and the reckless behavior was intentional. However, it is not clear if the pilot intended for the drone to contact the U.S. He stated that he was scheduled to call his Russian counterpart, Chief General Staff Gen. Valerygerasimov.

He also stated that it would take several days to determine whether the military will be in a position to recover it since the debris was so large. “probably sank to some significant depths.”

“On March 15, Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III spoke by phone with Russian Minister of Defense Sergey Shoygu regarding recent unprofessional, dangerous, and reckless behavior by the Russian air force in international airspace over the Black Sea. Secretary Austin emphasized that the United States will continue to fly and to operate wherever international law allows,” Pentagon spokesman Brig. General Patrick Ryder spoke in a readout.

Although this behavior is becoming more common among Russian pilots, it is still rare for a Russian pilot to crash into an American drone.

“This hazardous episode is part of a pattern of aggressive, risky, risky and unsafe actions by Russian pilots in international airspace,” America’s defense secretary stated.

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State Department Ned Price, a spokesperson, described the incident in these words: “a brazen violation of international law,” However, he stated that the U.S. would not allow it. “characterize” Russia’s motivations, adding: “In a sense, however, the motivations matter much less than what actually transpired, and that’s what we’re speaking to today.”

U.S. summoned Russian Ambassador Anatoly. He rebutted the allegation. Ambassador to Russia Lynne Tracy relayed similar information. “strong message” Price stated this to the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.