Alaska was part of the Russian empire from 1799. In 1867, it was sold to America for 7.2 million dollars. Alaska is only 55 miles from Russia. Looking at a map, it’s clear that the state is much closer to Russia than the mainland United States. So, could we see Russia try and retake Alaska? Could Russia ever launch an invasion of the state?
Russia could not invade Alaska. Russia does not have the military capacity to invade Alaska. The Russian armed forces lack the ability to launch a sea invasion and do not have the number of soldiers needed to conquer a region the size of Alaska.
…but that’s just an overview. Let’s look in more detail at the possibility of a Russian attack on Alaska.
What is Stopping Russia From Invading Alaska?
From 1799 to 1867, Alaska was part of the Russian empire. In 1867, Russia sold Alaska to the United States. Ever since, there have been those in Russia who have said this decision should be reversed, and that Russia should reclaim Alaska. So, what’s stopping Russia from invading?
There are four main reasons why Russia has not invaded Alaska. These are:
- Russia has no strategic interest in Alaska
- There is no political will in Russia to attack Alaska
- Russia does not have the military capacity in invade Alaska
- Invading Alaska would risk war with the United States
Let’s go over each of these…
Strategic Interest
The first reason stopping Russia from invading Alaska is that it doesn’t need to. Russia has no strategic interest in conquering Alaska. The territory is far from Russia’s heartlands. Although the state is rich in natural resources, Russia has extensive reserves of its own resources and does not need to acquire more through conquest of the state.
Political Will
A second reason why Russia hasn’t attacked Alaska is because there is no political ambition in Moscow to do so. There is no widespread support in Russia for retaking Alaska. There is also no political movement that advocates for retaking the territory.
Military Capacity
A third reason why Russia has not invaded Alaska is because of a lack of military capacity. The Russian armed forces are huge, and well equipped. However, they lack the number of amphibious and air assault craft needed to launch a major invasion on another continent. Alaska is also enormous, and Russia does not have the military strength to fully conquer it.
Risk of War
A final reason that has stopped Russia invading Alaska is that it would start a war with the United States. Alaska is a US state and would be fully defended by America if attacked. A Russian attempt to conquer Alaska would result in a wide-ranging war with the US, which could escalate to a nuclear exchange.
What Would Happen If Russia Attacked Alaska?
It’s almost certain that Russia will not attack Alaska. However, the future is impossible to predict. So, what would happen if Russia did launch an invasion of the state?
A Russian invasion of Alaska would result in a major conflict between Russia and the United States. The US would fully defend Alaska. If Russia attacked Alaska, it would also likely begin a war between Russia and NATO.
Alaska has been part of the United States since 1867 and a US state since 1959. Over 731,000 American citizens live in Alaska. An attack on Alaska would be seen as an act of aggression against the United States. The US would fully defend the state.
As well as extensive fighting in Alaska between US and Russian forces, a Russian attack on Alaska would almost certainly spark a larger war. The United States is a member of NATO and so covered by its article 5 mutual defence guarantee. This means an attack on the US is seen as an attack on all of NATO. If Russia tried to invade Alaska it would almost certainly start a war in Europe also as NATO members came to the assist the US. A wider war between the US and Russia would cause enormous death and destruction. There would be a real risk of it escalating into a nuclear confrontation as both sides are major nuclear powers.
How Would Russia Invade Alaska?
A Russian invasion of Alaska is extremely unlikely. But, if Russia did invade, how would it happen?
If Russia invaded Alaska, it would likely begin by launching missile strikes against key military and civilian targets in the state. It would then likely launch a combined sea and air invasion, probably aiming to swiftly capture the main population centres.
It’s impossible to know exactly how Russia would attack Alaska if it did. However, looking at recent Russian wars, it is probable that the first objective of a Russian attack would knock out key military instillations. They would also try to destroy important civilian sites, including communication networks.
Following an initial bombardment from the air and sea, Russia would likely launch ground forces. These would come by paradrops and sea landings. They would aim to take control of major population centres and create a defensive parameter against a US counterattack.
Will Russia Invade Alaska?
It’s clear that Russia does not have the capacity to invade Alaska. We also know why they have not invaded and what would likely happen if they did attack the state. However, not all military decisions are taken rationally. So, is it likely Russia will invade Alaska?
Russia will not invade Alaska. An invasion of Alaska is not in Russia’s strategic interest, and they do not have the military capacity to conquer the state. An invasion of Alaska would also begin a war with the United States that Russia would not risk.
Although Alaska was part of Russia from 1799 to 1867, there are few in Russia that still claim the territory. Alaska is also not strategically important to Russia – being far from the Russian heartland and difficult to access across the Bering Srait. These are key reasons why Russia will not invade Alaska.
Even if a major conflict broke-out between the US and Russia, it is very unlikely Russia would invade Alaska. The difficulty of moving troops into the territory, combined with its enormous size, tough terrain and small population would make conquering the state incredibly hard.
Is Alaska Safe From Russia?
A final point we must consider when discussing a Russian invasion of Alaska is if Alaska is really safe from Russia?
Alaska is safe from Russia. There is no threat of a Russian attack on Alaska. Invading Alaska is not in Russia’s strategic interest, and it does not have the military capabilities to conquer Alaska. Russia makes no claim to Alaska.
There is almost no chance that Russia would attack Alaska. Therefore, Alaska can be considered safe from Russia.
Although it is almost certain that Russia will not invade Alaska, as tensions rise between the Russia and the United States, Russia has increased its interference in American affairs. Cyber-attacks, disinformation campaigns and attempts to undermine American democracy have all characterised Russian aggression against the US in the last decade. Alaska is safe from Russian invasion, but it is not necessarily safe from Russian interference.