A Russian warship aggressively approached a US Navy destroyer in North Arabian Sea on Thursday causing a collision, the US Navy said on Friday.
The video obtained shows the Russian warship rapidly approaching the USS Farragut, coming close as 180 feet to the US warship, before changing course according to two defence officials.
The incident is the latest example of a close encounter between US and Russian military forces that American officials have described as unsafe or provocative.
“On Thursday, Jan. 9, while conducting routine operations in the North Arabian Sea, USS Farragut was aggressively approached by a Russian Navy ship,” the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet, which oversees naval operations in the Middle East, said in a statement.
“Farragut sounded five short blasts, the international maritime signal for danger of a collision, and requested the Russian ship alter course in accordance with international rules of the road. The Russian ship initially refused but ultimately altered course,” the statement said, adding “While the Russian ship took action, the initial delay in complying with international rules while it was making an aggressive approach increased the risk of collision.”
It comes roughly seven months after another incident in the Pacific when US and Russian warships came so close that the US ship had to perform an emergency manoeuvre to avoid a collision.
In the video taken from the American ship last year, Russian sailors can be seen appearing to sunbathe on the stern of their vessel.
