Rus Tu-95s flew all the way to Guam west of Hawaii last week

[Stratofreighter]

...it isn't just Western Europe these days...

http://freebeacon.com/national-security ... aten-guam/

Guam
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guam#Villa ... tary_bases
Not "just an outpost", but strategically important...

Two Russian strategic bombers circled the U.S. island of Guam last week in what U.S. defense officials say is the latest in a series of nuclear provocations by Moscow.

The bombers were identified by air defenses as Tu-95 Bear H nuclear-capable aircraft that circumnavigated the strategic U.S. military outpost on Friday—

U.S. Pacific Command can confirm that two aircraft circumnavigated Guam on November 13th,” said spokesman Maj. Christian Devine. “The aircraft were flying safely in international airspace and in accordance with international norms; as such, the decision was made to not intercept them.”

Friday’s flights were the second time in the past two years that Russia conducted unusual long-range bomber missions around the island. Two Tu-95s circled the island on Feb. 12, 2013 and were intercepted by F-15 jets.

The latest bomber flights around the island, located 4,000 miles west of Hawaii, appeared timed to coincide with the G-20 summit in Brisbane, Australia and come amid new tensions with Russia over Ukraine.

The flights took place a day before President Obama arrived in Brisbane for the summit where he met with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

[Le Addeur noir]

Another reason they were not intercepted may just be there are no air defense assets usually stationed at Anderson AFB.

This may well change in the future.

The Russians are also seeking basing rights for air force (and maritime)assets in foreign countries and Vietnam is believed to be one of the countries approached in this regard.

In a similar vein the Gulf of Mexico has been named as an area of interest for future Russian bomber/EW and reconnaissance flights in the future.