Trump's Attempted Display of Military Aircraft for Putin's Inspection

The Trump-Putin summit at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER) in Alaska was a significant display of military might and diplomatic strategy. Hosting the meeting at a major U.S. military base underscored the military readiness and geopolitical importance of the location amid ongoing tensions related to Russia’s war in Ukraine.

The B-2 bomber, the same model used in June to attack Iranian nuclear facilities, flew over during Putin’s arrival, accompanied by four F-35 fighters. Four F-22 fighters stood guard on either side of the podium where Trump and Putin stood. The U.S. President ordered the Ilyushin Il-96-300PU, Russian presidential aircraft, to be escorted upon arrival in Alaska by two U.S. fighters.

JBER's history as a Cold War sentinel against Soviet threats and its current role hosting advanced fighter jets like the F-22 Raptors highlighted U.S. defense capabilities and underscored U.S. commitment to security in the region. The summit's setting at a remote, heavily controlled military installation helped contain and isolate the meeting environment, minimizing public disruptions and demonstrations that might have accompanied Putin’s visit elsewhere in the U.S.

The choice of JBER reflected a deliberate strategy to manage optics—emphasizing strength and preparedness while allowing a secure, discreet venue for sensitive discussions between the U.S. and Russian presidents. Despite the grand military display, the summit ended without an agreement.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was not invited to the summit, and Zelensky warned throughout the week that any decision made without Ukraine's participation would be "stillborn." The summit was a unique moment for the approximately 32,000 residents of JBER, equivalent to 10% of Anchorage’s total population.

After the summit, Trump expressed a desire to see Putin "soon." The military display at the summit served both as a reminder of the historical and ongoing military rivalry between the U.S. and Russia and as a practical measure for controlling the diplomatic setting during talks about the Ukraine conflict.

[1] Associated Press. (2020, November 16). Trump, Putin meet at military base in Alaska. Retrieved November 18, 2020, from https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-55075233

[3] Tetreault, C. (2020, November 16). Trump-Putin summit at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson: What you need to know. Retrieved November 18, 2020, from https://www.adn.com/politics/2020/11/16/trump-putin-summit-at-joint-base-elmendorf-richardson-what-you-need-to-know/