Russian scout ship spotted near the American vessel Shell – RBC

scout ship CER-208, “Kurile Islands»

Photo: TASS

Russian intelligence ship “Kuriles” spotted in the Chukchi Sea near the ship Nobel Discoverer. It belongs to the American company Shell Oil Company (subsidiary of Royal Dutch Shell) and is engaged in the search for oil in the Arctic. On approaching a vessel CNN said an unnamed source, the data confirmed the Pentagon.

«We are aware of the fact that the Russian ship” Kuriles “is next to the Nobel Discoverer», – said Pentagon press secretary Geoff Davis. According to him, the US recognizes “the right of all sovereign states to move freely in international waters».

According to sources, the channel, US Northern Command warned of the presence of the Russian ship. He is also reported to the US Coast Guard. Davis stressed that the United States did not deploy defense resources in response to the approach of “Kuril Islands».

According to CNN, American companies are forced to compete with foreign competitors, doing oil exploration in the Chukchi Sea. Shell start exploratory drilling in Arctic waters off the coast of Alaska after US President Barack Obama has allowed drilling offshore in May this year.

According to the newspaper Los Angeles Times, US intelligence agencies have increased attention to the Arctic and strengthened Cooperation with Canada and Norway to monitor the situation in the region. According to the newspaper, 14 months of 16 US intelligence agencies have created a separate staff of analysts to work on the Arctic.

The publication argues that such an activity in the region, US intelligence did not conduct since the “cold war.” Activity, writes LA Times, is set against the backdrop of a stronger presence in the Arctic, Russia and China. In addition, the paper suggests that the US attention to the Arctic region is associated with being in its reserves of oil, natural gas and minerals.

In recent years, between the US and Russian courts have repeatedly occurred rapprochement. So, last week the Americans found a ship of the Russian Navy “Amber” about its nuclear submarine base. He is suspected of gathering intelligence on underwater sensors and other equipment that is used with the US submarine base at Kings Bay.

In addition, in the Black Sea was closer destroyer Donald Cook and the patrol ship “OK.” The destroyer arrived in the region to participate in the exercises Sea Breeze. According to the commander of the 6th Fleet, US Navy Vice Admiral James Foggo, “OK” is observation of the American ship.