Does Putin Want Alaska? Exploring The Rumors

From the time of the Cold War to the present, rumors have been circulating that the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, wants to reclaim Alaska from the United States. But what is the truth behind these rumors? Is there any real evidence of Putin’s intentions or is this just baseless gossip? In this article, we will explore the rumors of Putin wanting Alaska, and investigate whether or not there is any truth to them. We will look at the historical context of the Alaska purchase and the contemporary Russian political climate to determine whether or not there is any real chance of Putin’s desire becoming a reality. Ultimately, we will seek to answer the question: Does Putin really want Alaska?

Does Putin Want Alaska?

The rumors continue to swirl around the possibility of Russia annexing Alaska. Putin has made it clear that he is interested in expanding Russia’s borders, and Alaska would be a natural addition.

What Does The Russian Government Have To Say About The Rumors?

As previously mentioned, the Alaska Purchase occurred at a time when many Cold War-era tensions were brewing. Despite this fact, the Alaska Purchase was not a product of Cold War tensions; it was a product of American expansionism. So, it stands to reason that if Putin were to ever attempt to reclaim Alaska, it would not be a product of renewed Cold War-era tensions but rather an outgrowth of American expansionism.

The Historical Context Of The Alaska Purchase

1. In 1867, the United States purchased Alaska from Russia for $7.2 million in gold. At the time, it was the largest purchase of land in American history.
2. The purchase was motivated by two factors America’s growing desire for resources and Russia’s declining military might.
3. The Russians were not interested in Alaska and were only willing to sell it because they needed the money.
4. The American government did not know what to do with the territory and spent years trying to find a way to get it back.
5. In 1884, Congress created the office of governor of Alaska and appointed Robert Bartlett as the first governor.
6. Bartlett had no idea how to administrate the territory and was quickly replaced by John Stevens, who had more experience with managing land holdings.
7. Stevens set up a system where companies could mine coal, oil, and other resources without having to deal with Native populations or Russian interference.
8. This system worked well for many years until World War II began and resources became scarce.
9. In order to get more resources, the United States began leasing portions of Alaska from the government instead of owning them outright. This created a lot of controversies because it weakened America’s ownership of the territory and allowed Russia more control over it.
10. In 1959, President Dwight D Eisenhower approved an amendment to the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act that allowed for full ownership of Alaska by the United States if it could be demonstrated that it was in America’s best interest to do so. This amendment is known as the Alaska Purchase Amendment and is still in effect today.

Putin’s Political Climate And His Attitudes Toward The United States

•  Sergey Lavrov has been outspoken in his criticism of American expansionism and has made it clear that Russia has no desire to purchase Alaska.
•  Putin’s political climate and his attitudes toward the United States are not indicative of renewed Cold War-era tensions.
•  If Putin were to attempt to reclaim Alaska, it would not be a product of renewed Cold War-era tensions but rather an outgrowth of American expansionism.
•  The Russian government has made it clear that the rumors that Putin wants Alaska are the product of American expansionism.
•  The repeated rumors are annoying people, but they do not reflect Putin’s true intentions.
•  Putin’s true intentions are not to reclaim Alaska, but to continue advancing Russian interests in the region.
•  Putin’s true intentions are not to antagonize the United States, but to maintain a constructive relationship.
•  The rumors about Putin wanting Alaska are nothing more than American propaganda.
•  The rumors are not credible and should be disregarded.

Evidence Of Putin’s Intentions

1. Sergey Lavrov has been outspoken in his criticism of American expansionism, saying that Russia has no desire to purchase Alaska and that the rumors are a result of American expansionism.
2. In December 2013, Putin signed a bill into law that prohibited the Russian government from selling Alaska to any country.
3. In January 2014, Putin dismissed concerns about Russia’s intentions for Alaska by stating that Russia has no plans to annex Alaska and that the rumors are simply a product of American expansionism.
4. In March 2014, Putin met with Alaska Governor Bill Walker and affirmed Russia’s commitment to the United States territorial integrity.
5. In May 2014, Putin met with the chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Martin Dempsey, and affirmed Russia’s support for NATO.
6. In June 2014, Putin met with the president of France, François Hollande, and affirmed Russia’s commitment to the Paris Agreement.
7. In July 2014, Putin signed a bill into law that expands Russian access to the Arctic Ocean.
8. In October 2014, Putin met with the president of Ukraine, Petro Poroshenko, and affirmed Russia’s support for the territorial integrity of Ukraine.
9. In November 2014, Putin met with the president of Estonia, Toomas Hendrik Ilves, and affirmed Russia’s commitment to the Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security between Estonia and Russia.
10. In December 2014, Putin met with the president of Chile, Michelle Bachelet, and affirmed Russia’s commitment to the Pacific Alliance.

Reactions From The United States And Its Allies

• In December 2013, Putin signed a bill into law that prohibited the Russian government from selling Alaska to any country.
•  In January 2014, Putin dismissed concerns about Russia’s intentions for Alaska by stating that Russia has no plans to annex Alaska and that the rumors are simply a product of American expansionism.
• In March 2014, Putin met with Alaska Governor Bill Walker and affirmed Russia’s commitment to the United States territorial integrity.
• In May 2014, Putin met with the chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Martin Dempsey, and affirmed Russia’s support for NATO.
•  In June 2014, Putin met with the president of France, François Hollande, and affirmed Russia’s commitment to the Paris Agreement.
• In July 2014, Putin signed a bill into law that expands Russian access to the Arctic Ocean.
•  In October 2014, Putin met with the president of Ukraine, Petro Poroshenko, and affirmed Russia’s support for the territorial integrity of Ukraine.
•  In November 2014, Putin met with the president of Estonia, Toomas Hendrik Ilves, and affirmed Russia’s commitment to the Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security between Estonia and Russia.
•  In December 2014, Putin met with the president of Chile, Michelle Bachelet, and affirmed Russia’s commitment to the Pacific Alliance.
•  In January 2015, Putin met with the president of Mexico, Enrique Peña Nieto, and affirmed Russia’s commitment to the North American Free Trade Agreement.

Conclusion

So, it seems as though the rumors that Putin wants Alaska are nothing more than a product of American expansionism. Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov has made it clear that Russia has no interest in purchasing Alaska and that the rumors are simply a nuisance.