On Wednesday, a Russian legislator and close confidant of Russian President Vladimir Putin recommended that Moscow consider retaking Alaska from the United States.
Alaska, the largest state by land and located to the west of Canada, became the 49th state to enter the union in January 1959. Previously, the Russian Empire attempted to colonise the territory in the 18th century before selling it to the United States for $7.2 million, or nearly $150 million adjusted for inflation, due to the difficulty of maintaining it. Alaska and Russia are just about 53 miles apart at their closest point, separated by the Bering Strait.
In a Wednesday post to X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, Russian legislator Sergei Mironov indicated that the United States’ oversight and power are dwindling, citing Venezuela’s recent attempts to grab territories controlled by its neighbour, Guyana. The lawmaker recommended that other countries consider retaking historical regions that are now part of the United States, naming Mexico and Texas as examples, as well as Russia and Alaska.
On Saturday, Anton Gerashchenko, an assistant to Ukraine’s minister of internal affairs and ardent opponent of Russia, noted and translated Mironov’s message on social media.
“Did you wish for a new world order?” “Here you go,” Mironov wrote, according to Gerashchenko’s translation. “Venezuela is annexing Guyana-Essekibo, its 24th state.” This is taking place directly beneath the nose of the once-great hegemon United States. All that remains is for Mexico to reclaim Texas and the rest of the territory. It is time for Americans to consider their future, as well as Alaska.”
In the past, Putin has been reserved about the notion of retaking Alaska, despite efforts by some in his ministry to promote it.
“Why do you need Alaska?” When asked about the prospect of a Russian citizen reclaiming the territory during a Q&A session in 2014, Putin remarked. “Alaska, by the way, was sold sometime in the nineteenth century.” Around the same period, the French sold Louisiana to the United States. Thousands of square km of land were auctioned for $7.2 million in gold.”
The Russian president went on to label the Alaska purchase “inexpensive” and asked his countrymen not to “get worked up about it.”
