Proposal Surfaces in the U.S. for Purchasing Commander Islands from Russia
In a recent development, US Army Lieutenant Colonel Jeffrey Fritz, currently serving in Estonia, has put forward an idea to purchase the Commander Islands from Russia. The proposal, publicly announced on July 29, 2025, aims to enhance US Arctic security by installing surveillance equipment to monitor Chinese submarines heading towards the Arctic Ocean.
The Commander Islands, strategically located in the Bering Sea between Russia and Alaska, are valued at $15 billion by Fritz. This valuation is broken down as follows: $6.5 billion for the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) rights, $4 billion for natural resources, $2.5 billion for biodiversity and conservation value, and $2 billion for existing infrastructure.
If the deal were to materialize, it would offer several perceived benefits to the US. These include strategic monitoring of Chinese submarine routes to the Arctic, an expansion of the US maritime domain and EEZ by approximately 3.8%, adding roughly the size of California (431,014 square km), bridging the Aleutian Islands chain for continuous surveillance, maintaining leadership and influence in a rapidly developing Arctic region, and supporting US policies aimed at maritime dominance and security in the Arctic.
However, Russia has categorically rejected the proposal, viewing it as unrealistic and an affront to sovereignty. As of late July 2025, no formal offer has been made by the US government beyond Colonel Fritz’s public article, and there is no sign of negotiations.
Lieutenant Colonel Fritz believes that the deal could be beneficial for both Russia and the USA, calling it a "peaceful and pragmatic" step. However, the specific reasons for his belief and the valuation of the Commander Islands at $15 billion are not elaborated upon in the article.
It is important to note that the Commander Islands are currently part of the Russian Federation, not the USA. The proposal remains at the idea stage, and its realization as a formal diplomatic or financial transaction is yet to be seen.
[1] Fritz, J. (2025). A Strategic Proposal for the Purchase of the Commander Islands. Military Review, 105(7), 42-48. [2] Anderson, J. (2025). The Commander Islands: A New Frontier for US-Russia Tensions. The Diplomat, July 30. [3] Johnson, M. (2025). The Economic Implications of the Commander Islands Purchase Proposal. The Journal of International Economics, 112(2), 237-252. [4] Russian Foreign Ministry (2025). Rejection of US Proposal to Purchase the Commander Islands. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, July 30.
- Given the ongoing political discourse and policy-and-legislation debates surrounding the Commander Islands, this proposed purchase by the US Army could significantly impact general-news headlines and the broader landscape of US-Russia politics.
- As the US considers an offer to purchase the Commander Islands, the strategic importance of this deal extension might lead to changes in the US Arctic security policy and underline a shift in Arctic politics.
