Canadian CF-18 fighters held off two Russian Tu-95 long-range bombers who tried to enter Canadian airspace yesterday, the Canadian Department of National Defence said. Similar incidents were recorded several times every year since 2007. A DND spokesman designated these flights a 'show of force'. The incidents seem to be connected to Russian claims of a 1.2 million km² area in the Arctic, including the north pole; the Arctic is believed to hold about 30% of the world's petroleum gas reserves and 90 billion barrel of petroleum.
Moscow often made clear that they are willing to enforce their interests by military means if necessary.
Russian sources claim their aircraft were on a normal training flight and did not violate Canadian airspace.
(Source: SpOn [German], http://www.spiegel.de/politik/ausland/0,1518,709520,00.html
see also: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-10825255 )
Moscow often made clear that they are willing to enforce their interests by military means if necessary.
Russian sources claim their aircraft were on a normal training flight and did not violate Canadian airspace.
(Source: SpOn [German], http://www.spiegel.de/politik/ausland/0,1518,709520,00.html
see also: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-10825255 )
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