“The last frontier” – “The last frontier” is characterized by many Americans, Alaska, because it is separated by only 90 kilometers of the Bering Strait from Russia.
Tensions between Russia and the United States in the region began long before the war in Ukraine.
According to the US Coast Guard, Russian ships threatened American fishermen in 2020, a number of Russian icebreakers are sailing in this sea area, while a member of the Russian Duma supported the return of Alaska to Russia.
At the same time, the US authorities are accusing Moscow of violating US airspace with fighter jets.
In this context of tension and indirect threats, the United States is strengthening its military presence in the 49th US state.
With deafening noise, F35 fighters take off from the Air Force base near the town of Fairbanks as part of the “Red Flag” exercise.
The aim of the exercise is to prepare the pilots in the fifth generation stealth aircraft just in case.
In the 19th century, Alaska belonged to the Russian Empire and was used mainly as a place for hunting fur animals.
Over the years, however, the Russians lost interest in the overseas colony and sold it in 1867 to the United States for just $ 7 million.
Republican Don Sullivan, who represents Alaska in the Senate, estimates that Alaska and the Arctic will become increasingly important in the coming years:
“Putin says the Arctic will be the 21st century Suez Canal, which will be controlled by Russia.
“We are under pressure and that is why we need to have a strong presence in Alaska.”
And because of climate change, ice is melting and the Arctic Ocean is becoming increasingly accessible to ships.
The US senator finally states that Russia has 54 icebreakers in the region, many of which are nuclear, while the US has only two, one of which is damaged.
