Lindsey Graham Calls on Biden to ‘Hold Russia Accountable’ for Downing a US Drone
Lindsey Graham calls on Biden to ‘hold Russia accountable’ for downing a US drone and threatens to shoot down Putin’s warplanes if they come anywhere near US assets even in international waters
Senator Lindsey Graham has called on Biden to ‘hold Russia to account’ for downing a US drone and has threatened to fire on Putin’s warplanes if they come anywhere near US assets even in international waters.
South Carolina Republican Sen. Graham said the US should fire on Russian warplanes approaching a US airway asset over international waters after two Russian warplane pilots shot down a Unidentified US aerial vehicle (UAV) over the Black Sea yesterday, March 14.
According to military officials, the Russian pilots repeatedly dumped fuel on the drone and flew in front of it in a “reckless” and “professional” manner before a collision caused the US UAV to crash.
The senator told Fox News host Seam Hannity that the US should hold Russia accountable and warned the Kremlin: “If you ever get close to another US asset flying in international waters, your plane will be shot down,” according to news week.
He criticized the Biden administration, saying the president was acting like a “deer in the headlights” in the face of foreign threats like Russia.
South Carolina Republican Sen. Graham (pictured) said the US should fire on Russian fighter jets that approach a US airway asset over international waters.
This comes after two Russian fighter jet pilots shot down an unnamed US air vehicle (UAV, like the one pictured above) over the Black Sea yesterday, March 14.
He said weakness breeds provocation and that Russia knew it would get away with shooting down the drone, as other presidents like Reagan would have already started shooting down Russian planes if they were threatening US assets.
Fox News host Mr. Hannity suggested Putin may have been monitoring Biden’s reaction when a Chinese spy balloon flew over the mainland US and was only shot down after a week.
Senator Graham also compared the president to comedian Rodney Dangerfield, who was known for directing his jokes with the line “I get no respect,” while saying that “nobody” respected the president either.
He warned that if Biden did not change his game plan, there would be World War III.
The Russian ambassador has now accused the US of a “provocative act” and claims his fighter missed a US drone that crashed in the Black Sea on Tuesday.
“We view this incident as a provocation,” said Anatoly Antonov, the Russian ambassador to the United States.
According to US officials, the MQ-9 Reaper drone was intercepted by two Russian Su-27 jets that dropped fuel on the drone before cutting off its propeller, causing it to crash.
The senator told Fox News host Seam Hannity that the US should hold Russia accountable, warning the Kremlin: “If you ever get anywhere near another US asset flying in international waters, your plane will be shot down.”
He made the comments after being subpoenaed by the US State Department to answer for the downing of one of its surveillance drones in international airspace.
“What would the US reaction be if it sees a Russian drone very close to, say, San Francisco or New York?” Antonov asked reporters as he was leaving the department building in Washington. It’s clear to me, to you too.
The US surveillance drone crashed into the sea after two Russian Su-27 jets ambushed it, dumped fuel on it and eventually struck its propeller, the Pentagon said.
Russia has denied any contact was made and says the drone crashed after a “sharp manoeuvre”. Its Defense Ministry claimed the drone was flying into its airspace with its transponder turned off, and Russian fighters were sent to investigate.