Russian forces to secure US mass events

Russian forces will provide security at mass events in the United States as part of an emergency situations agreement between Russian and U.S. officials last week.

According to an agreement reached at a meeting on June 25 at the 17th Joint U.S.-Russia Cooperation Committee on Emergency Situations, the Russian Emergency Situations Ministry and the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will exchange experts during rescue operations in major disasters.

The agreement involves monitoring and forecasting emergency situations, training of rescuers, development of mine-rescuing, and provision of security at mass events, according to a press release by the Ministry of the Russian Federation for Civil Defense.

The events, which are referred to as “National Special Security Events” by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, include presidential inaugurations, State of the Union addresses, and international meetings like G8 summits.

Russian airborne forces were also invited to the U.S. last year for joint anti-terror drills in the state of Colorado.

At their meeting last week, the Russian and U.S. officials also agreed to even further enhance their cooperation in responding to emergency situations in the future.