Image of a Venezuela SU-30 Flanker as it “aggressively shadowed” a U.S. EP-3 Aries II at an unsafe distance in international airspace over the Caribbean Sea July 19, jeopardizing the crew and aircraft. The EP-3 aircraft, flying a mission in approved international airspace, was approached in an unprofessional manner by the SU-30 that took off from an airfield 200 miles east of Caracas. The U.S. routinely conducts multi-nationally recognized and approved detection and monitoring missions in the region to ensure the safety and security of our citizens and those of our partners. (Released by U.S. Southern Command)