WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — Earlier this month, Russian Su-24 Fencer tactical bombers flew close to the US destroyer Donald Cook in the Baltic Sea. According to the Russian Defense Ministry, the bombers swerved away from the US warship once it was identified.
"We do expect that [flyovers] to be discouraged from higher up from now on," Carter stated. "These pilots need to get the word… [that] this is unprofessional, this is dangerous, this can lead somewhere."
"There is a real risk there because that ship captain has a responsibility to defend that ship," Carter told the US Senate when asked about the likelihood of an incident occuring when Russian jets fly too close to US vessels. "That creates in circumstances like this an inherent danger."
Carter said he could not speculate on whether orders to "buzz" US warships came down from the Russian senior leadership.
The US European Command (EUCOM) said the Russian jets flew in a manner that resembled an attack and ignored safety advisories.
