The U.S. military has stationed 130 soldiers and mobile rocket systems on a remote island in Alaska’s Aleutian chain in response to increased Russian military activity in the area. Over the past week, Russian military aircraft and naval vessels, including two submarines, have approached Alaska during joint exercises with China.

Pentagon spokesperson Major General Pat Ryder downplayed the immediate threat but acknowledged the ongoing concerns. “This isn’t the first time we’ve seen Russian and Chinese military activity near Alaska, and we are closely monitoring the situation,” he said. Despite the rise in activity, Ryder assured the public that there was no cause for alarm.

The deployment of troops follows a pattern of escalating tensions, with Russian warships conducting missile exercises and the U.S. military intercepting Chinese and Russian bombers off Alaska in July. Major General Joseph Hilbert, who leads the 11th Airborne in Anchorage, highlighted the importance of the U.S.’s rapid response to threats in remote areas.

North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) has noted a surge in Russian aircraft entering the Alaskan zone, with 25 incidents reported this year alone. This marks a significant increase from the average of six to seven intercepts per year.

Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-AK) called for greater military presence in the region, specifically urging the U.S. Navy to reopen its base at Adak in the Aleutians to counter the growing threats from Russia and China.