Why Alaska was selected for Donald Trump-Vladimir Putin’s meeting?
In a historic meeting, US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin came together in Alaska to discuss various bilateral and global issues. The meeting, which took place in July 2017, was marked by controversy and raised several eyebrows. One of the most significant aspects of the meeting was its location – Alaska. So, why was Alaska chosen for this high-stakes meeting?
According to reports, Russian President Vladimir Putin reportedly chose Alaska for the meeting as the US is not part of the International Criminal Court (ICC) and doesn’t have legal responsibility of arresting Putin. Notably, ICC has issued an arrest warrant against Putin for alleged war crimes in Ukraine and ICC’s member states will arrest him if he enters their territory.
The ICC had issued an arrest warrant against Putin in March 2017, charging him with crimes against humanity for his alleged involvement in the annexation of Crimea and the war in eastern Ukraine. This made it essential for Putin to avoid traveling to any country that is a member of the ICC.
Alaska, being a US state, is not a member of the ICC, which means that Putin would not have been at risk of being arrested or extradited. By choosing Alaska, Putin effectively avoided the risk of being taken into custody, which would have been a huge diplomatic embarrassment for Russia.
Another reason why Alaska was chosen is that it is geographically isolated from the rest of the world. Alaska is the largest state in the United States by land area, and it is bordered by Canada to the east. This made it easier for Putin to travel to the state without being detected or intercepted by ICC officials.
Additionally, Alaska is a vast and remote state, which made it an ideal location for a private meeting between the two leaders. The state is not known for its bustling cities or crowded streets, which meant that the meeting could be held in private without drawing too much attention.
The meeting itself was marked by controversy, with many criticizing Trump for not publicly condemning Putin’s alleged human rights abuses in Ukraine. The meeting was also criticized for lacking transparency, with many calling for the release of a joint statement or a summary of the discussions.
Despite the controversy surrounding the meeting, the fact remains that Alaska was chosen for a specific reason – to avoid legal entanglements. By choosing Alaska, Putin effectively sidestepped the ICC’s arrest warrant and was able to hold a private meeting with Trump without fear of being taken into custody.
In conclusion, the choice of Alaska for the Trump-Putin meeting was a deliberate decision aimed at avoiding legal issues. Putin’s decision to choose Alaska was likely driven by the desire to avoid being arrested or extradited by ICC officials. The meeting itself was marked by controversy, but the fact remains that Alaska was chosen for a specific reason – to ensure that Putin’s legal freedom was not compromised.
