Russian jets keep buzzing U.S. ships. What can the US do? | CNN Politics

Russia in World Affairs

us confrontation russian jets navy ship todd dnt tsr_00010627.jpg

Now playing

02:07

Kerry: U.S. could have shot down Russian jets

BART MAAT/AFP/Getty Images

(L/R): Head of Dutch Military Intelligence and Security Service Onno Eichelsheim, Minister of Defence Ank Bijleveld and British ambassador Peter Wilson attend a press conference of the Dutch Military Intelligence and Security Service (MIVD) at The Hague, The Netherlands, on October 4, 2018. - Dutch intelligence thwarted a Russian cyber attack targeting the global chemical weapons watchdog in April and expelled four Russian agents, the government said. The Russians set up a car full of electronic equipment in the car park of a hotel next to the Organisation for the Prohibition for Chemical Weapons in The Hague in a bid to hack its computer system, it said. (Photo by Bart Maat / ANP / AFP) / Netherlands OUT (Photo credit should read BART MAAT/AFP/Getty Images)

Now playing

01:11

Russia denies western accusations of attacks

BBC

putin response russian spy lon orig bks_00003009.jpg

Now playing

01:30

Reporter confronts Putin about spy poisoning

Bowtie TV

The UK will expel 23 Russian diplomats from the country after concluding that the Russian state is responsible for the attempted murder of former Russian agent, Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in Salisbury on March 4th. They will have one week to leave. "For those who seek to do us harm, my message is simple. You are not welcome here."

Now playing

01:08

Theresa May: UK will expel 23 Russian diplomats

MLADEN ANTONOV/AFP/Getty Images

A Russian flag flies next to the US embassy building in Moscow on July 31, 2017. (MLADEN ANTONOV/AFP/Getty Images)

Now playing

01:04

Suspected Russian spy worked inside US embassy

MAYELA LOPEZ/AFP/Getty Images

Steven Seagal (R) delivers a press conference with Costa Rican President, Oscar Arias (out of frame), on February 11, 2009, at the presidential residence in San Jose. Seagal and Arias met to talk about the possibility of real estate and film industry investments in Costa Rica. AFP PHOTO/ Mayela LOPEZ (Photo credit should read MAYELA LOPEZ/AFP/Getty Images)

Now playing

02:30

Putin appoints Steven Seagal for diplomat job

Russian Defense Ministry

russia new nuclear weapons putin chance lkl vpx _00002715.jpg

Now playing

01:09

Russia releases video of new nuclear weapons

Jack Taylor/Getty Images

SALISBURY, ENGLAND - JULY 05: A police officer stands by a cordon in place at Queen Elizabeth Gardens in Salisbury after a major incident was declared when a man and woman were exposed to the Novichok nerve agent on July 5, 2018 in Salisbury, England. The couple, named locally as Dawn Sturgess 44, and Charlie Rowley, 45 were taken to Salisbury District Hospital on Saturday and remain there in a critical condition. In March Russian former spy Sergei Skripal and his 33-year-old daughter Yulia were poisoned with the Russian-made Novichok in the town of Salisbury. British Prime Minister Theresa May has accused Russia of being behind the attack on the former spy and his daughter, expelling 23 Russian diplomats in retaliation. (Photo by Jack Taylor/Getty Images)

Now playing

02:02

Russia denies involvement in poisoning attacks

Reuters

Now playing

00:54

May: Nerve agent poisoning deeply disturbing

Raja Razek/CNN

A CNN team accessed the Malaysia Airlines flight 17 (MH17) crash site, July 30, 2014 and found evidence that there are still belongings at the site, including pieces of the plane .

Now playing

00:49

Investigators: MH17 downed by Russian missile

Dylan Martinez/AP

Yulia Skripal poses for the media during an interview in n London, Wednesday May 23, 2018. Yulia Skripal says recovery has been slow and painful, in first interview since nerve agent poisoning. (Dylan Martinez/Pool via AP)

Now playing

02:34

Daughter of poisoned ex-spy: Lucky to be alive

GOOGLE EARTH

Now playing

01:28

Russia blames Israel for strikes on Syria

CNN PHOTO ILLUSTRATION/GETTY IMAGES

Now playing

02:36

Why Hungary is looking more and more like Russia

MLADEN ANTONOV/AFP/Getty Images

A Russian flag flies next to the US embassy building in Moscow on March 27, 2018. (MLADEN ANTONOV/AFP/Getty Images)

Now playing

02:26

Russia retaliates, expels 60 US diplomats

ALEXANDER ZEMLIANICHENKO/AFP/AFP/Getty Images

Presidential candidate, President Vladimir Putin addresses the crowd during a rally and a concert celebrating the fourth anniversary of Russia's annexation of Crimea at Manezhnaya Square in Moscow on March 18, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / POOL / Alexander Zemlianichenko (Photo credit should read ALEXANDER ZEMLIANICHENKO/AFP/Getty Images)

Now playing

01:35

Russia votes: How the day unfolded

ALEXEY NIKOLSKY/AFP/AFP/Getty Images

Russian President Vladimir Putin delivers a speech during a meeting with Russian athletes and team members, who will take part in the upcoming 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympic Games, at the Novo-Ogaryovo state residence outside Moscow on January 31, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / SPUTNIK / Alexey NIKOLSKYALEXEY NIKOLSKY/AFP/Getty Images

Now playing

03:47

How do you become president of Russia?

Story highlights

Two Russian fighter jets recently flew within 30 feet of the USS Cook

The Pentagon said the incidents could "unnecessarily escalate tensions between the two countries"

Washington CNN —

Two separate close encounters between the Russian and U.S. militaries in recent days have left many wondering if future incidents could result in an armed clash.

Pentagon spokesman Capt. Jeff Davis told reporters Monday, “There have been repeated incidents over the past year where Russian aircraft have come close enough to other air and sea traffic to raise serious safety concerns.”

“Unsafe and unprofessional actions by a single pilot have the potential to unnecessarily escalate tensions between the two countries,” he added.

After two Russian fighter jets flew within 30 feet of the USS Donald Cook last Tuesday, Secretary of State John Kerry warned that the Russian action could have resulted in the jets being shot down.

Kerry told CNN en Español that “under the rules of engagement, that could have been a shoot-down, so people need to understand that this is serious business.”

When asked why the Russian plane was not shot down, a senior military official told CNN that “the Russians were dangerous but did not demonstrate hostile intent and were unarmed.”

On Saturday, U.S. European Command, which oversees U.S. military operations in Europe, said that a Russian interceptor flew within 50 feet of an American reconnaissance aircraft, a maneuver the U.S. military described as “unsafe and unprofessional.”

Russia’s Defense Ministry said that reports on Thursday’s incident were “not consistent with reality” and that the Russian aircraft’s maneuvers had been “performed strictly in accordance with the international regulations on the use of airspace.”

Both incidents took place in the Baltic Sea.

The U.S. Navy does not publicly discuss its rules of engagement in order to prevent adversaries from using them to their advantage.

But a Navy official told CNN that “every commanding officer of a U.S. Navy ship is empowered to make the decision regarding the self-defense of the ship and its crew.”

The official added that in the case of the Cook, “The commanding officer recognized that the flight patterns were unsafe and unprofessional but did not feel threatened and therefore did not engage with tactical weapons.”

Retired Navy Capt. Rick Hoffman lauded the performance of the ship’s commanding officer, telling CNN that the “destroyer captain exercised extreme professionalism and extreme restraint.”

Hoffman, who commanded a frigate and a cruiser during his time in the Navy, said that the Russian action was probably “sufficient” to justify a shoot-down. But he added, “in this particular case, from my perspective, I think he took all the right action and demonstrated calm professionalism.”

As to why Russia has engaged in these type of aerial maneuvers, Hoffman said that “President (Vladimir) Putin is clearly playing domestic politics.”

Heather Conley of the Center for Strategic and International Studies agreed, telling CNN, “This highly risky behavior seems to be an attempt to cause or create an accident or incident. Perhaps Mr. Putin believes he needs to divert the Russian people’s attention away their economic troubles.”

She added, “To America’s European allies, the Kremlin is messaging that the U.S. cannot protect them from Russia if Russia wants to do something to them militarily.”

But close observers say the U.S. shooting down a Russian plane is very unlikely, and very undesirable.

A Russian Tu-95 Bear bomber is escorted by a British Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter during an intercept in September 2014. Click through the gallery to see other intercepts in late 2014.

Photos: Russian warplane intercepts

UK Ministry of Defence

A Russian Tu-95 Bear bomber is escorted by a British Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter during an intercept in September 2014. Click through the gallery to see other intercepts in late 2014.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said in November that alliance fighters had <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2014/11/21/world/europe/nato-russia-intercepts/index.html">intercepted Russian warplanes as they flew close to NATO countries more than 400 times</a> in 2014, the kind of Russian air activity not seen since the Cold War.

Photos: Russian warplane intercepts

Norwegian Armed Forces

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said in November that alliance fighters had intercepted Russian warplanes as they flew close to NATO countries more than 400 times in 2014, the kind of Russian air activity not seen since the Cold War.

An armed MiG-31 intercepted by Norwegian planes. The plane is nicknamed the Foxhound by NATO.

Photos: Russian warplane intercepts

Norwegian Armed Forces

An armed MiG-31 intercepted by Norwegian planes. The plane is nicknamed the Foxhound by NATO.

An armed Tu-22M supersonic bomber, nicknamed the Backfire by NATO, was photographed by Norwegian fighter jets.

Photos: Russian warplane intercepts

Norwegian Armed Forces

An armed Tu-22M supersonic bomber, nicknamed the Backfire by NATO, was photographed by Norwegian fighter jets.

A look at a Russian Tu-22M from below as taken by a Norwegian Royal Air Force fighter plane.

Photos: Russian warplane intercepts

Norwegian Armed Forces

A look at a Russian Tu-22M from below as taken by a Norwegian Royal Air Force fighter plane.

A Su-24 attack aircraft, nicknamed the Fencer by NATO, was photographed by a Norwegian warplane.

Photos: Russian warplane intercepts

Norwegian Armed Forces

A Su-24 attack aircraft, nicknamed the Fencer by NATO, was photographed by a Norwegian warplane.

An armed MiG-31 Foxhound photographed from below by a Norwegian Royal Air Force interceptor.

Photos: Russian warplane intercepts

Norwegian Armed Forces

An armed MiG-31 Foxhound photographed from below by a Norwegian Royal Air Force interceptor.

A Russian Il-78 tanker refuels a Tu-95 Bear bomber in a photograph taken by a Norwegian warplane.

Photos: Russian warplane intercepts

Norwegian Armed Forces

A Russian Il-78 tanker refuels a Tu-95 Bear bomber in a photograph taken by a Norwegian warplane.

Photos: Russian warplane intercepts

Finnish Air Force

Two Russian Sukhoi Su-34 fighter bombers, nicknamed the Fullback by NATO, as photographed by Finnish Air Force F/A-18 Hornet fighters.

Finnish fighter jets photographed this Russian Tu-95 Bear bomber.

Photos: Russian warplane intercepts

Finnish Air Force

Finnish fighter jets photographed this Russian Tu-95 Bear bomber.

Two Tupolev Tu-22M aircraft intercepted by Finnish fighter planes.

Photos: Russian warplane intercepts

Finnish Air Force

Two Tupolev Tu-22M aircraft intercepted by Finnish fighter planes.

A Russian Tupolev Tu-95 Bear bomber intercepted by Finnish fighter planes.

Photos: Russian warplane intercepts

Finnish Air Force

A Russian Tupolev Tu-95 Bear bomber intercepted by Finnish fighter planes.

“Those ships are very sophisticated. We can make decisions about whether they live or die from great distances, with great speed, but we don’t want to do that unless it’s absolutely necessary and it’s absolutely supported by our rules of engagement,” Hoffman said.

Conley said that the only way the U.S. would shoot down a plane in this situation is if the Russians actually shot first.

Even if the U.S. were to take such action, Hoffman doubted that it would lead to full-scale conflict between the U.S. and Russia.

“Would this precipitate general war with Russia? I don’t believe so. But It would be very, very unfortunate for everybody, everybody involved,” he said.

In November tensions between Russia and NATO-member Turkey ratcheted after the Turkish military downed a Russian aircraft that Turkey said had violated its airspace after crossing the Syria-Turkish border. The incident led to some economic sanctions and the severing of military ties between the two countries.

Conley noted that there had been a marked increase in these type of incidents.