The B-52H bomber flew a few dozen kilometers from the Russian border and Belarus, believed to be an act of praising strength and reassuring allies.
The Estonia Defense Ministry on February 24 posted a video of the US B-52H strategic bomber leading the squad in the sky of Tallinn, behind were 4 F-35A stealth fighters and two fighters F /A-18 Finland. The squad flew over the radio ceremony while the Estonian armor march below.
“Thank friends and allies for celebrating the National Day with us,” the Ministry of Defense of Estonia said.
The United States used the B-52 aircraft to fly through the sky Tallinn to celebrate Estonia National Day in the past.
The B-52H bomber led the squad to fly through the sky of Tallinn of Estonia on February 24. Video: BQP Estonia
Data from the Flightradar24 civil aviation tracking website shows that after flying through Tallinn, the B-52H bomber continued to move east and towards St. Petersburg of Russia. When about 80 km from the Estonian – Russian border, the aircraft switched south and started the journey to return to the base of the UK.
The B-52H in turn entered Latvia, Lithuania and Poland, flying through the Suwalki corridor and sometimes indicating the Belarus border, Russia’s close ally, about 16 km.
Russian and Belarus officials have not commented on information.
The Suwalki corridor is about 60 km long, which is the shortest road connecting Belarus and Russian overseas Kaliningrad. It also has another name “NATO pharynx”, because if Russia uses force to control this corridor, the three NATO members are Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia will be completely separated from the rest of the block.
The flight route of the B-52 muscle bomber and Suwalki corridor (red). Graphic: Flight Radar 24
“Despite the previous plan, the flight of the B-52 has caused many rumors on social networks, especially when the event took place on the occasion of the three-year-old Russia launched a campaign in Ukraine.” Actor Thomas Newdick of American Military Specialization War Zone judgment.
According to Newdick, this move aims to praise the strength and issue a warning signal to Russia, as well as reaffirm the US commitment to ensuring security for the Baltic countries, countries that depend on NATO about defense.
“This is also a message to other members of NATO, amid they are concerned about the recent US controversial statements about Europe,” Newdick added, mentioning the statement of Washington “no longer is no longer The main security guarantee for Europe “was given by US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth in the middle of the month.