On 14/8, Yuri Ushakov, foreign policy advisor to Russian President Vladimir Putin, announced the summit between Putin and US President Donald Trump would take place at a facility within Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska's largest city. The two leaders will meet one-on-one, with only interpreters present.

The choice of a military base for the first summit between the two leaders in years immediately drew public attention. Observers believe the selection carries several messages from both sides.

Fighter jets on the runway of Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in 5/2017. Photo: ADN

Fighter jets on the runway of Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in 5/2017. Photo: ADN

Formed in 2010 by merging Elmendorf Air Force Base and Fort Richardson Army Post, the base holds strategic importance. Located just 4.8 km from Russia, it's the closest point between Alaska and the country. Throughout much of the Cold War, US forces stationed there were tasked with monitoring and deterring the Soviet Union.

At the height of the Cold War in 1957, Elmendorf housed 200 fighter jets, along with air traffic control systems and early warning radar to detect unusual Soviet military activity and potential nuclear launches. This role earned it the nickname "Shield of North America."

Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson currently houses key aircraft squadrons, including the F-22 Raptor stealth fighter. Jets from this base regularly intercept Russian aircraft approaching US airspace.

The base's primary mission now is to protect US interests in the Asia-Pacific region.

The US Department of Defense describes the area as having "picturesque, majestic snow-capped mountains, lakes, glaciers, and abundant wildlife." The base is home to over 32,000 military personnel and family members, nearly 10% of Anchorage's population.

Beyond the scenery, Benjamin Jensen, a senior defense and security expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington, notes that holding the meeting at a US military base will shield the leaders from protests and fulfill stringent security requirements.

"For President Trump, this is a great way to showcase American military might while preventing public or any other interference in the dialogue," Jensen commented.

The location allows Trump to cultivate his relationship with Putin while "projecting strength to gain a negotiating edge, potentially paving the way for a second meeting," he added.

Unnamed White House officials stated the venue meets all requirements for hosting the two leaders. Moreover, with Alaska in peak summer tourist season, alternative locations with sufficient logistical and security capabilities for a last-minute summit were limited.

According to former US Air Force officials, with existing security measures, Elmendorf-Richardson is ideal for the event.

David Nahom, former commander of the Alaskan NORAD Region, Alaskan Command, and the 11th Air Force, believes that not just Elmendorf-Richardson, but all US military bases have always adhered to strict security protocols, deterring potential espionage.

Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson has hosted numerous leaders, and this experience is expected to facilitate the upcoming summit.

For Putin, the summit represents a return to the international diplomatic stage, and its occurrence alone is testament to this.

"The Kremlin can now declare that Russia is back at the global political table," commented BBC analysts Anthony Zurcher and Steve Rosenberg.

"The so-called isolation no longer has any meaning for Russia," the Moskovsky Komsomolets newspaper emphasized earlier this week.

Alaska offers several advantages for the Kremlin.

Security is paramount. At its closest point, mainland Alaska is only 90 km from Russia's Chukotka region. Putin can reach the meeting point without flying over "hostile" nations.

Secondly, the location's distance from Ukraine and Europe aligns with the Kremlin's resolve to sideline Kyiv and EU leaders to engage directly with Washington.

Alaska also carries historical symbolism. "Alaska is a clear example of how national borders can change and vast territories can be transferred," wrote the Moskovsky Komsomolets.

Alaska's deep connection to Russian history and culture stems from the Russian Empire's exploration of the region in the 18th century. Tsar Alexander II sold it to the US in 1867 for 7.2 million USD.

Alaska later became a US state, but Russian-speaking communities remain. Russian Orthodox churches dot the landscape from the remote Aleutian Islands to Anchorage.

Location of Alaska. Graphics: Google Maps

Location of Alaska. Graphics: Google Maps

In the Oval Office on 14/8, President Trump boasted about all the global conflicts he felt he had successfully resolved since taking office. However, when asked about the war in Ukraine, he made a rare admission of the challenge he faces.

"I thought this would be the easiest problem," he said. "It's actually the hardest."

Trump isn't one for delving into details. But according to Zurcher and Rosenberg, if given the opportunity to declare progress in establishing peace in Ukraine from the negotiations at the Alaskan military base, Trump will surely seize it.

Vu Hoang (According to BBC, AP, Sky News, Independent, Axios)