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A ceasefire in Ukraine will be one focus when Presidents Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump meet in Alaska. However, cooperation between Russia and the United States in the Arctic would also be an important topic for discussion, according to Andreas Østhagen from the Fridtjof Nansen Institute in Oslo.
Østhagen said that Anchorage is a natural location for discussing the strategic region surrounding it, which both countries are paying increasing attention to. Areas of mutual interest such as oil and gas exploration, developing the Northern Sea route, and fishing could be discussed.
Why It Matters
Both Russia and the U.S. have prioritized the Arctic, making it a fitting topic for a summit in Alaska—the gateway to this region where the Bering Strait connects the Pacific and Arctic Oceans directly.
What To Know
The Russian and American presidents will meet at the Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage on Friday. The Trump administration hopes for a breakthrough in the Russia-Ukraine war.
Østhagen mentioned that Russia could discuss developing the Northern Sea route (NSR) into a commercial traffic lane, which is part of a Russian project involving U.S. participation but not driven by them.
The NSR runs along the Arctic coastline, making it the shortest shipping route between Eurasia and the Asia-Pacific region. Its strategic value aligns with Trump’s statements about acquiring Greenland. Container ships, oil tankers, bulk carriers, and vessels servicing operations in Alaska and Siberia transit this route, which is becoming more navigable due to global warming.
Efforts under both the Biden administration and Trump’s first term focused on expanding collaboration between Russia and the U.S., with an emphasis on safer traffic through the Bering Strait. The Bering Sea, rich in profitable fish stocks, is also a zone of active fishing by multiple countries, including China.
Potential plans for oil and gas development in the Arctic exist, and joint exploration in shared areas like the Chukchi Sea could be considered, though profitability and political factors influence such projects.
What People Are Saying
The fact that both presidents have put the Arctic high on their agendas would make Alaska a natural point to discuss the region. Russia perhaps could offer developing the Northern Sea route into a viable commercial traffic lane, which is part of a Russian project involving U.S. participation but not driven by them.
What Happens Next
The White House has described Friday’s summit in Anchorage as a “listening exercise” for Trump. Before this, European leaders are likely to push for the U.S. to keep Ukraine’s interests in mind.
