Anchorage, Alaska’s largest city, is positively thrum-ing with excitement.
The foreign community is looking forward to a Washington summit between former President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. As conversations about this high-profile meeting circulate, local residents express mixed feelings, emphasizing their desire to maintain a distinct identity separate from national politics. Anchorage is farther north than cities such as Oslo, Norway, and St. Petersburg, Russia. Housing just under 300,000 residents, the city helps to create a deepening cultural connection formed by its breathtaking natural environment and its indigenous Siberian neighbors across the Bering Strait.
The city is built on mud flats facing the Cook Inlet, directly at the feet of the beautiful Chugach mountains. Its downtown is filled with wide boulevards, strip malls, but some of the most stunning birch groves imaginable. Stores in downtown Anchorage display tribal masks and other Alaska Native crafts. In addition to these, pack plenty of bear and moose-adorned tchotchkes that perfectly capture the colorful local culture, a far cry from the political clown shows taking place all around the world.
Anchorage has a profound connection to Russia. Until the United States purchased it in 1867, the city was originally part of the Russian Empire. This geographical proximity has clearly played a role in shaping local sentiment, still today. With Russian jets frequently buzzing Alaskan airspace and reports suggesting that the Russian government is undercutting local fishermen, many residents view their Russian neighbors with a blend of wariness and humor.
Local sentiment regarding the possible summit seems to mirror this sentiment. An unnamed woman encapsulated the feeling of many when she stated, “We don’t want to be part of whatever is happening there.” Odenton’s other residents largely agreed, with one saying, “We don’t need to [follow their lead], we don’t have to do everything they do.”
In 2017, the city received a visit from China’s President Xi Jinping. He savored a wonderful meal of king salmon and crab bisque while visiting. In 2019, Anchorage had become the setting for a nasty political exchange between Chinese diplomats and members of the Biden administration. It’s no surprise that Anchorage is back in the national spotlight! Some of the local residents jokingly proposed that a meeting between Trump and Putin take place “at Sarah Palin’s house,” a demonstration of their local fierce pride and independent streak.
As summer slowly comes to a close, Anchorage is gearing up for one of its final warm weekends. The height of the salmon run also overlaps with berry-picking season, so many residents take advantage of the short-lived bounty by spending more time outdoors. Andy Moderow expressed his excitement for the weekend plans, stating, “I’m looking forward to taking my boat out on the water at Prince William Sound – that’s my plan.”
This natural beauty hasn’t softened Anchorage residents’ wariness towards Russia, even with all that makes Alaska beautiful. Hollis French noted, “We are aware that they’re a hostile neighbor. We are aware that they probe our defenses and we respond accordingly.” He said that Alaskans could be understandably wary about Vladimir Putin. They know that he’s not the image of Russia that they hoped to project.
Bridges Blogger Jeff Landfield recently reflected on how the past months have changed life at home. On July 20th, he noted, “We’ve had a pretty good summer. Whether it’s getting projects done or spending time outdoors hunting, fishing, camping or four-wheeling. We’re approaching the end of the season, and I’ve listened to a lot of people voice their fears. They’re indignant, warning, “Just watch it if you screw up my itinerary! This sentiment reflects a collective desire among residents to prioritize their own lives and community over distant political machinations.
In a lighthearted yet telling remark regarding their historical ties to Russia, Anchorage residents have adopted a satirical motto: “Please don’t sell us back.” Heaney-Mead described this phrase as an example of local levity in the middle of very intense diplomatic and military conversations about high-level international relations.
As Anchorage prepares for potential global attention with the upcoming summit, locals express hope that their unique culture and way of life will remain unaffected by external influences. Hollis French encapsulated this sentiment by stating, “You feel like Anchorage is back on the map in a way, which I think everyone sort of enjoys.”