Last week, US officials scrambled to finalize a location in Alaska for the August 15 summit between President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. They quickly encountered a major obstacle: Alaska's peak tourist season limited the availability of suitable venues.
While some influential Alaskans offered their private residences, White House officials explored various locations in Juneau, Anchorage, and Fairbanks. Ultimately, Anchorage emerged as the only viable option, with Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, just north of the city, meeting the necessary security requirements. However, the White House hoped to avoid hosting Putin and his delegation at a US military base.
 |
US President Donald Trump (left) and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Photo: CNN |
US President Donald Trump (left) and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Photo: CNN
These logistical challenges underscore the complexities of organizing the first meeting between the two leaders in over 4 years. Preparations are ongoing, and according to the Russian Foreign Ministry, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussed "some aspects of the arrangements" in a phone call on August 12.
Summits with major rivals like Russia typically follow extensive negotiations. However, Trump has framed the meeting as a "probing" session with low expectations for breakthroughs. The White House described it as a "listening session."
"The president thinks 'I have to deal with this man. I need to meet him face-to-face. I need to hear him speak. I need to make an assessment by looking him in the eye'," Secretary Rubio explained in an August 12 interview, suggesting 5 previous phone calls hadn't clarified the Kremlin leader's intentions.
Sources say the Trump administration and the Kremlin chose Alaska after lengthy discussions, citing limited suitable locations, especially after the International Criminal Court (ICC)'s 2023 arrest warrant for Putin.
The ICC warrant ruled out European venues, including traditional meeting places like Vienna and Geneva.
While Putin suggested the United Arab Emirates (UAE), White House officials preferred to avoid another long trip to the Middle East after Trump's May visit. The choice ultimately narrowed to the US and Hungary, given Prime Minister Viktor Orban's close ties to both presidents.
US officials expressed satisfaction and surprise at Putin's agreement to meet on US soil. "I think it's very respectful that the president of Russia is coming to our country, as opposed to us going to his country or some third-party country," Trump said.
Others disagreed. Former National Security Advisor John Bolton suggested the best alternative to Alaska "would have been Moscow." "So I think the choice of venue is already a victory for Putin," he said.
The last US-Russia summit was in Geneva, Switzerland, in 2021. The date and location were announced three weeks prior, but planning had begun months earlier. Then-President Joe Biden spent days preparing with advisors, analyzing potential outcomes and anticipating Putin's moves. He also consulted other leaders, like the German Chancellor.
On the day of the 2021 summit, US aides meticulously planned every detail, from arrival times to discussion lengths and floral arrangements. They even ensured orange Gatorade labeled "President of the United States (POTUS)" was available in the 18th-century villa's refrigerator.
During his first term, Trump met Putin in Helsinki, Finland, in 2018, notably contradicting US intelligence assessments on Russian election interference. They also met at the 2017 G20 summit in Hamburg, Germany.
Despite extensive US-Russia discussions since last week's agreement, the impetus for the Alaska summit remains unclear. Trump's envoy, Steve Witkoff, met Putin in Moscow on August 6, reportedly leading to the summit decision, though the content of their conversation is unknown.
European officials sought details about a peace deal proposed by Putin last week, expressing frustration at the lack of clarity from Witkoff.
 |
President Trump and President Putin arrive at their meeting in Helsinki, Finland, in 2018. Photo: AFP |
President Trump and President Putin arrive at their meeting in Helsinki, Finland, in 2018. Photo: AFP
Trump is scheduled to discuss the summit with European leaders in a German-arranged video conference on August 13. He promised to call them and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky after the summit.
Zelensky's likely absence from Alaska makes a trilateral US-Russia-Ukraine meeting improbable. Instead, the White House says Trump will hold a private meeting with Putin for confidential discussions.
"That is part of the plan," Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed when asked about a private meeting.
While private meetings are not unusual, Trump's relationship with Putin has drawn scrutiny. Even senior officials in Trump's first term sometimes remained unaware of their discussions. In their 2017 and 2018 meetings, both leaders had interpreters but no senior aides present. After the Germany meeting, Trump reportedly asked the interpreter to hand over their notes.
Despite the challenges, Alaskan Governor Mike Dunleavy expressed anticipation for the summit. "Alaska is the most strategically located place in the world, at the crossroads of North America and Asia, with the Arctic to our north and the Pacific Ocean to our south. Just two miles from Russia, no place plays a more critical role in our national defense, energy security, and American leadership in the Arctic," he stated on X.
"It is only fitting that a discussion of this global magnitude takes place here. For centuries, Alaska has been a bridge between nations, and today we remain the gateway for diplomacy, trade, and security in one of the most vital regions on Earth. The world will be watching and Alaska is ready to host this historic meeting," Governor Dunleavy declared.
Putin's aide, Yuri Ushakov, acknowledged the challenges of preparing for the Alaska summit. "Moscow and Washington will, of course, be working actively and trying to agree on the practical details and the political components for the Alaska meeting. We know that this process is not simple, but we will participate in it actively and consistently," he said.
Vu Hoang (CNN, AFP, Reuters)
