Why Putin Wanted Alaska For the US, Russia Summit? Know Its Significance

Alaska will host historical meet between the two powerful leaders of the world as US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are ready for important talks on Ukraine.

The talks will be held at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska's largest military installation. The Russian and U.S. presidents will begin their summit at 11:30 a.m. local time (3.30 p.m. ET).

Why Did US-Russia Choose Alaska As The Location For The Meet?

Alaska, which is known as Frontier State, is the closest point between the U.S. and Russia, separated by just 55 miles across the Bering Strait.

"The symbolism of Alaska would be a reminder of how it was possible for the United States and Russia for most of the 19th century to transcend their ideological and political differences and their expansionisms, to have warm, friendly cooperative relations," Time quoted David S. Foglesong, a history professor at Rutgers University - New Brunswick, as saying.

Moreover, the city is far from Ukraine and Europe. Lee Farrow, professor and chair at Auburn University at Montgomery, said, "It's going to be easier to manage strategically from a safety standpoint, and Putin doesn't have to be worried about getting arrested by some kind of international court."

Putin is facing an arrest warrant for crimes, which prevents him from entering 125 countries. In March 2023, The International Criminal Court issued the warrant and said that the Russian President was "responsible for the war crime of unlawful deportation of (children) and that of unlawful transfer of (children) from occupied areas of Ukraine to the Russian Federation."

Not many are aware of the fact that Russia had sold Alaska for 7.2 million in 1867. "Russia preferred to have Alaska go to what it considered a friendly power, like the United States, rather than to have it possibly fall into the hands of an unfriendly power like Britain, which Russia continued to regard as really enemy number one," says Foglesong.