Lindsey Graham calls for Biden to ‘hold Russia accountable’ for downing a US drone

Senator Lindsey Graham called on Biden to “hold Russia accountable” for downing a US drone and threatened to shoot down Putin’s warplanes if they approach US assets, even over international waters.

South Carolina GOP Senator Graham said the US should shoot down Russian warplanes approaching a US airway asset over international waters after two Russian fighter jet pilots downed an unnamed 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 the drone in a “reckless” and “unprofessional” manner before a collision caused the UAV to crash.

The senator told Fox news host Sean Hannity that the US should hold Russia accountable and warned the Kremlin: “If you ever get anywhere near another US asset flying in international waters, your plane will be shot down.”

He criticized the Biden administration, saying the president acted like “a deer in the headlights” in the face of foreign threats like Russia.

The senator (right) told Fox News host Sean Hannity (left) that the US must hold Russia accountable and warned the Kremlin: “If you ever get anywhere near another US asset flying in international waters, your plane will be shot down’

This comes after two Russian fighter jet pilots downed an unnamed US aircraft (UAV, as pictured above) over the Black Sea yesterday, March 14.

He said weakness creates provocation and that Russia knew they would get away with shooting down the drone, as other presidents like Reagan would have already started shooting down Russian planes if they threatened US assets.

Fox News host Hannity suggested that Putin may have been watching Biden’s reaction when a Chinese spy balloon flew over the mainland US only to be shot down after a week.

Senator Graham also compared the president to comedian Rodney Dangerfield, who was known for joking the phrase “I don’t get no respect,” as he said that “no one” respected the president either.

He warned that if Biden did not change his game plan, there would be a Third World War.

The Russian ambassador has now accused the US of an “act of provocation,” claiming his warplane failed to hit a US drone that crashed into the Black Sea on Tuesday.

“We see this incident as a provocation,” said Anatoly Antonov, the Russian ambassador to the US.

According to US officials, the MQ-9 Reaper drone was intercepted by two Russian Su-27 jets that dumped fuel on the drone before clipping the propeller, causing it to crash

The senator told Fox News host Seam Hannity that the US must hold Russia accountable and warned the Kremlin: “If you ever get anywhere near another US asset flying in international waters, your plane will be shot down.”

He said weakness creates provocation and that Russia knew they would get away with shooting down the drone, as other presidents like Reagan would have already started shooting down Russian planes if they threatened US assets.

He made the comments after being called by the US State Department to answer for the downing of one of its surveillance drones in international airspace.

‘What would the reaction of the United States be if you saw such a Russian drone very close to, say, San Francisco or New York?’ Antonov asked reporters as he left the department building in Washington. “It’s clear to me, and it’s clear 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 hit its propeller, the Pentagon said.

Russia has denied any contact, saying the drone crashed after “sharp maneuvering”. The Defense Ministry claimed the drone flew into its airspace with its transponder turned off, and the Russian fighters were dispatched to investigate.