Russia’s Fake Missile Test Warning to New Zealand
With the warning of a yet-to-materialize missile test in the Southern Ocean, is Russia playing an old joke on New Zealand?
In August, Russia issued a fake missile test warning to New Zealand, reminiscent of a past joke at an APEC meeting. The Russian Air Traffic Management Corporation warned the New Zealand Civil Aviation Authority of a missile launch in an area of the Southern Ocean managed by New Zealand. Despite no Russian vessels in the area, the warning caused flight restrictions and a U.S. Air Force C-17 flight to be diverted.
New Zealand has experienced landing of Russian space debris before, but not a missile launch. Foreign Minister Winston Peters questioned the clarity of Russia's information. Russia's warning is likely an intimidation and show of force, exploiting gaps in international maritime rules. The U.S., Russia, and China all have Antarctic programs hosting global navigation satellite systems, which are dual civil-military facilities. Recent naval exercises and boarding actions between the nations show escalating tensions.
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