A Military Hub with F-22 Fighters and a Key Role During the Cold War

The meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin will take place on Friday, August 15, at Joint Base Elmendorf–Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska.

The base played a key role in monitoring the Soviet Union during the Cold War, but in recent years it has rarely hosted political figures—let alone the presidents of both countries. In addition to the similar flight times from Washington and Moscow, the choice of venue may have been influenced by its remoteness and the ability to isolate the event from the outside world.

"Any location that allows the event to be isolated and simplifies control over the situation matters to both sides," noted Benjamin Jensen, a senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. He said it was especially important for Trump to avoid images of mass protests during the visit of "a war criminal like Putin" to the United States.

The post-summit press conference is also scheduled to be held on the base, which remains little-known but historically significant.

Joint Base Elmendorf–Richardson is home to the U.S. Air Force’s 3rd Wing, which operates fighter aircraft, including the F-22 Raptor. The facility is regarded as a critical hub for military operations in the Asia-Pacific region, the Arctic, and along the U.S. West Coast.

According to U.S. military data, more than 32,000 people live on the base—about 10% of Anchorage’s population. It contains infrastructure valued at roughly $15 billion and spans 85,000 acres. The base is located about 11 miles (18 kilometers) from the city center.

Experts estimate that this is effectively the only location in Alaska capable of providing the necessary level of security for the simultaneous visit of Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin.

Joint Base Elmendorf–Richardson, in its current form, was established in 2010 through the merger of Elmendorf Air Force Base and Fort Richardson.

During the Cold War, Elmendorf played a key role in monitoring the Soviet Union, as well as tracking potential nuclear strikes or military activity in the Pacific region. This earned it the nickname “Top Cover for North America.”

The U.S. Army first established a presence in Alaska in 1867, shortly after the territory was purchased from Russia. The Air Force arrived in 1941 amid threats linked to World War II, and its importance only grew as relations with the USSR rapidly deteriorated. As the base’s website notes: "Elmendorf Field played an increasingly important role in the defense of North America as the uncertain military relationship between the United States and the Soviet Union evolved into the Cold War."

In 1951, the Army moved to the new Fort Richardson, while the Air Force took over the old site, renaming it Elmendorf Air Force Base. The 2010 merger of the two installations was accompanied by an expansion of infrastructure, making the complex the largest military hub in Alaska.

Joint Base Elmendorf–Richardson has already hosted at least four U.S. presidents and one foreign leader.

In 1971, the base hosted a historic meeting between President Richard Nixon and Emperor Hirohito of Japan—the first time a reigning Japanese emperor had visited a foreign country. Thousands gathered in a hangar to witness the event. In 1983, Ronald Reagan stopped here en route to Japan and South Korea. In 2015, Barack Obama arrived at the base to take part in the GLACIER conference, and in 2023, Joe Biden held a September 11 memorial ceremony there.

At other times, high-level visits from Washington have mostly been limited to defense officials assessing Arctic service conditions and discussing the base’s mission. For example, in 2023, then–Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks visited to address quality-of-life issues for service members stationed in Arctic regions.