A meeting room at Elmendorf-Richardson during a meeting with senior air force leaders in October 2022.

Reporters gathered outside Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska's largest city, on 14/8, the day before the summit between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. This will be the first meeting between the two leaders since June 2021. The meeting will be one-on-one, with only interpreters present.

US Department of Defense officials arrived by helicopter to inspect Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson on 15/7. The base was selected after a thorough review of potential locations in Alaska, considering security and logistical requirements for the summit.

Warning signs are posted on the fence outside the entrance to Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson. The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) also announced it will enforce a Federal Aviation Administration flight restriction over Anchorage for the summit.

Vehicles lined up at the base entrance on 13/8. The base dates back to the Cold War, a period of intense rivalry between the US and the Soviet Union.

Ukraine and its European allies hope the summit will lead to a breakthrough in ending the conflict. However, there are concerns that Trump might propose Ukraine ceding territory to Russia as part of a peace agreement.

A military helicopter flew over Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson on 13/8. The base plays a vital role in protecting US interests in the Asia-Pacific region. Its strategic importance during the Cold War stemmed from the closest point between Alaska and Russia being only 4.8 km apart.

Elmendorf-Richardson is also located in a historically significant area for Russia. In 1867, Tsar Alexander II agreed to sell Alaska to the US for 7.2 million USD. Trump has long considered Andrew Jackson, the US president at the time, a hero.

President Trump spoke with military personnel during a refueling stop for Air Force One at Elmendorf-Richardson in 2019. Trump visited the base several times during his first term, and the upcoming summit with Putin marks his first visit to the base during his second term.

Barack Obama visited the base in 2015, staying for three days and becoming the first sitting US president to travel north of the Arctic Circle.

In 2023, US President Joe Biden visited the base to attend a 9/11 memorial service.

Visitors at the Arctic Thunder air show at Elmendorf-Richardson in July 2024. Alaska's largest military base is a combination of Elmendorf Air Force Base and Fort Richardson Army Base. Located in a remote area, Elmendorf-Richardson houses some of the US's most advanced fighter jets, including the F-22 Raptor.

A performance during the Arctic Thunder air show at Elmendorf-Richardson in July 2024. The base is home to over 32,000 military personnel and their families, representing about 10% of Anchorage's population.

US military personnel on guard duty during a training exercise at Elmendorf-Richardson in January 2023. Putin will be the first Russian president to visit Anchorage. "It seems quite logical for our delegation to fly across the Bering Strait and hold this important, anticipated summit between the leaders of the two countries in Alaska," said Yuri Ushakov, Putin's foreign policy advisor.

US soldiers conducted live-fire exercises at Elmendorf-Richardson in March 2022. The base is situated amidst majestic, snow-capped mountains, lakes, rivers, and glaciers, according to the US Department of Defense. Its unique location contributes to the high cost of operating the base.

US Air Force firefighters used inflatable boats to rescue victims during an ice rescue training exercise at Six Mile Lake on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in January 2023. "Everyone thought a third country would be chosen to host the summit, so Alaska was a big surprise. For Trump, it's great that Putin is coming to the US. For Putin, it's also great to just fly across the sea instead of through other countries," said Nina Khrushcheva, professor of international relations at The New School in New York.

Huyen Le (According to AFP, AP, Reuters)