The U.S. State Department responded on Monday to reports that Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree to investigate the possibility of reclaiming former Russian territories, including Alaska. State Department principal deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel dismissed the notion, stating that the sale of Alaska was considered illegitimate and would not be returned to Russia. However, the decree signed by Putin allocated funds to search for and register property owned by the Russian Federation, the former Russian Empire, and the former USSR.
While it remains unclear if Putin’s decree specifically targeted Alaska, a Russian nationalist blogger on Telegram suggested that Russia should begin enacting the law in Alaska, as well as in other parts of eastern Europe, the Caucasus, and Central Asia. Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev also mocked the State Department’s comment about Alaska, stating that the return of the territory was long-awaited and now war was inevitable.
During a previous question-and-answer session in 2014, Putin referred to the sale of Alaska as “inexpensive” and emphasized that the territory’s climate was similar to that of Russia. The prospect of Moscow reclaiming Alaska was also mentioned by Russian politician Sergey Mironov in December, in response to Venezuela’s approval of a referendum to take over the neighboring Essequibo region controlled by Guyana.
The historical context of the Alaska purchase was highlighted by the U.S. State Department’s Office of the Historian. In 1867, the United States purchased Alaska from Russia for $7.2 million, ending Russia’s presence in North America and securing U.S. access to the Pacific northern rim. This transaction marked the end of Russian efforts to expand trade and settlements to the Pacific coast of North America and played a significant role in the United States’ rise as a great power in the Asia-Pacific region.
As discussions surrounding the potential reclamation of Alaska by Russia continue, the international community closely watches these developments. The implications of such a move could have far-reaching consequences for regional dynamics and U.S.-Russia relations.
(This article was written by Danielle Wallace, a reporter for Digital, covering politics, crime, police, and more. For story tips, contact [email protected] or follow her on Twitter: @danimwallace.)
