Russian President Vladimir Putin was greeted with a reminder of U.S. military firepower upon touching down at Alaska‘s Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson for his summit with President Donald Trump.
Two U.S. B-2 stealth bombers flew into Alaska hours before the meeting. Putin was greeted by a B-2, as well as F-35 jets as he arrived at the base, while the aircraft conducted a flyover as Trump greeted the Russian leader on the tarmac. The B-2 bombers were the same type that conducted the strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities earlier this year.
The pair of stealth bombers represents roughly 10% of the Air Force’s entire fleet, and are the same kind that Trump used to strike Iran’s nuclear sites in June. They are likely meant to assert U.S. dominance over Russia ahead of the summit. More bombers may be headed in the same direction, according to defense analysis site TWZ, which reported the Air Force has just 19 B-2 bombers in total.
Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-AK) also revealed the presence of over 100 fifth-generation fighter jets, while touting his home state as the “right place” for the summit.
“Putin understands strength & power — Alaska exudes both. Huge military presence, cornerstone of US missile defense, 100+ 5th-gen fighters, @11thAirborneDiv, & a major American energy producer,” Sullivan posted on X.
The world is waiting to see if Trump can help end the Ukraine war when the two leaders meet in Alaska this weekend. Trump is expected to be joined by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff.
TRUMP SAYS ‘NEXT MEETING’ AFTER PUTIN SUMMIT WILL INVOLVE ZELENSKY
“We’re going for a meeting with President Putin in Alaska, and I think it’s going to work out very well — and if it doesn’t, I’m going to head back home real fast,” Trump told Fox News’s Bret Baier aboard Air Force One en route to Alaska.
The two leaders last met in 2018, with Trump telling reporters Friday morning that he and Putin share “a good respect level, on both sides,” and that he hopes “something’s going to come” out of the meeting.
