Trump-Putin meeting over Ukraine's matter carries on Alaska's decades-old conflict with Russia, marked by strife
In the latter half of the 18th century, Russia established a significant presence in Alaska, marking the beginning of a complex relationship that would last for over a century. This era was characterised by fur trading activities, cultural influence, and sometimes tense relations with the native peoples.
The journey began in 1784 when Empress Catherine the Great authorised the founding of Three Saints Bay, a base for maritime fur trade, particularly focusing on sea otters. Russian trappers, known as promyshlenniki, intensified this trade, leading to conflicts with Alaska Native groups such as the Aleuts and Tlingits.
The Russian-American Company (RAC), established in 1799, monopolised the fur trade and served as an agent of Russia's imperial and cultural influence. Despite often strained relations, a relatively stable modus vivendi was maintained until the Russian withdrawal.
Russia's interest in Alaska waned significantly after the Crimean War depleted its resources. In 1867, Czar Alexander II agreed to sell Alaska to the United States for $7.2 million, marking the end of Russian colonization but leaving enduring cultural and historical legacies in Alaska.
The transfer had a profound impact on Alaska Natives. The colonisation brought violence, exploitation, and the spread of diseases that decimated indigenous populations. The fur trade disrupted traditional economies and land use, and Russian cultural imposition altered native societies. However, Eastern Orthodox Christianity continues among some Native communities to this day.
Fast forward to modern times, Alaska has welcomed several world leaders, including President Barack Obama, who in 2015 became the first sitting U.S. president to set foot north of the Arctic Circle. Other notable visitors include Japanese Emperor Hirohito, Chinese President Xi Jinping, and Russian leader Vladimir Putin, who will be the first to visit Anchorage since the city's establishment.
Yet, the relationship between Russia and Alaska is not without controversy. In 2022, the Anchorage Assembly voted unanimously to suspend its three-decade-long sister city relationship with Magadan, Russia, in response to Putin's invasion of Ukraine. Protests against Putin were also held in Anchorage by the group Stand Up Alaska.
In conclusion, Russia's relationship with Alaska is a rich tapestry of economic exploitation, conflict, negotiation, cultural influence, and eventual retreat. This history has shaped Alaska's demographic and cultural landscape, and its effects are still felt today.
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