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US military: Venezuelan plane 'aggressively' shadowed Navy aircraft US military: Venezuelan plane 'aggressively' shadowed navy aircraft
(about 20 hours later)
The US military on Sunday accused a Venezuelan fighter aircraft of “aggressively” shadowing a US Navy EP-3 Aries II plane over international airspace, a fresh sign of growing hostility between the two countries. The US military on Sunday accused a Venezuelan fighter aircraft of “aggressively” shadowing a US navy EP-3 Aries II plane over international airspace, a fresh sign of growing hostility between the two countries.
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The encounter occurred on Friday, the day the Trump administration announced it was imposing sanctions on four top officials in Venezuela’s military counterintelligence agency.The encounter occurred on Friday, the day the Trump administration announced it was imposing sanctions on four top officials in Venezuela’s military counterintelligence agency.
In a statement issued Sunday, the US military said it had determined the “Russian-made fighter aggressively shadowed the EP-3 at an unsafe distance in international airspace for a prolonged period of time, endangering the safety of the crew and jeopardizing the EP-3 mission”.In a statement issued Sunday, the US military said it had determined the “Russian-made fighter aggressively shadowed the EP-3 at an unsafe distance in international airspace for a prolonged period of time, endangering the safety of the crew and jeopardizing the EP-3 mission”.
The two planes did not collide and no one was hurt.The two planes did not collide and no one was hurt.
The US military did not give details of the EP-3’s mission or say where the encounter took place.The US military did not give details of the EP-3’s mission or say where the encounter took place.
In a statement published by Venezuela’s government, the South American country’s armed forces said they rejected “the incursion of a US reconnaissance and intelligence aircraft” in the flight area surrounding Maiquetia airport, which serves the capital, Caracas.In a statement published by Venezuela’s government, the South American country’s armed forces said they rejected “the incursion of a US reconnaissance and intelligence aircraft” in the flight area surrounding Maiquetia airport, which serves the capital, Caracas.
The US aircraft was detected in Venezuelan airspace on Friday morning and did not report its presence to local authorities, the statement said, adding that it posed a risk to other planes in the area.The US aircraft was detected in Venezuelan airspace on Friday morning and did not report its presence to local authorities, the statement said, adding that it posed a risk to other planes in the area.
At 11.33am local time two Venezuelan fighter jets intercepted the aircraft and it was escorted out of Venezuela’s airspace, the statement said.At 11.33am local time two Venezuelan fighter jets intercepted the aircraft and it was escorted out of Venezuela’s airspace, the statement said.
Donald Trump’s administration has repeatedly used sanctions in an effort to oust Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro, whose 2018 re-election has been deemed illegitimate by the US and most western nations. Donald Trump’s administration has repeatedly used sanctions in an effort to oust Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro, whose 2018 re-election has been deemed illegitimate by the US and most western nations.
Maduro has retained the backing of Venezuela’s military and other institutions, as well as China, Russia and Cuba.Maduro has retained the backing of Venezuela’s military and other institutions, as well as China, Russia and Cuba.
“The Maduro regime continues to undermine internationally recognized laws and demonstrate its contempt for international agreements authorizing the US and other nations to safely conduct flights in international airspace,” the US military said.“The Maduro regime continues to undermine internationally recognized laws and demonstrate its contempt for international agreements authorizing the US and other nations to safely conduct flights in international airspace,” the US military said.
The statement also took a swing at Russia, saying the close encounter in the air “demonstrates Russia’s irresponsible military support to the illegitimate Maduro regime”.The statement also took a swing at Russia, saying the close encounter in the air “demonstrates Russia’s irresponsible military support to the illegitimate Maduro regime”.
VenezuelaVenezuela
AmericasAmericas
US militaryUS military
US national securityUS national security
US foreign policyUS foreign policy
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