House unanimously passes resolution condemning Russia for downing US drone - NewsNaija.com.ng

The House unanimously passed a resolution Monday condemning Russia for shooting down a US Air Force drone over the Black Sea last month.

The resolution, which spans two pages, passed in a vote of 410-0. Specifically, it “condemns the reckless actions of the Russian military” and “reaffirms that the United States will not be deterred from operating US drones in international airspace in the Black Sea region due to Russia’s reckless behavior.”

The chamber held a vote on the measure just over a month after officials confirmed that a Russian warplane intercepted a US Air Force drone in international airspace and forced it to descend into the Black Sea. .

The incident raised concerns about a possible escalation of tensions between the United States and Russia. Secretary of State Antony Blinken called the shootdown a “reckless and unsafe action.” National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said that while “it is not uncommon for Russia to intercept non-Russian aircraft over the Black Sea,” the US Air Force drone “was operating in international airspace.” over international waters and posed no threat to anyone, and it was an unsafe and unprofessional interception.”

“Russia continues to act irresponsibly and recklessly on the world stage. Now, the Russian military has directly interfered with a United States Air Force drone operating lawfully in international airspace,” Rep. Brandon Williams (RN.Y.), a sponsor of the resolution, said in a statement on Monday.

“This resolution categorically condemns the actions of the Russian military and states that any attempt by the Russians to recapture our drone is a threat to the national security of the United States,” it added.

The House has passed a series of laws to crack down on Moscow since the conflict between Russia and Ukraine broke out in February 2022.

The downing of the US Air Force drone last month marked the first publicly known instance of a Russian fighter jet damaging a US plane on purpose since the conflict between the two countries began.