On August 15th, according to the Russian weekly news website “Arguments and Facts”, before the Russia-US summit, the US Secret Service and Putin’s security team carried out a joint security operation in Anchorage. Alexei Funarov, the head of the Russian State Security Association and a former KGB official, introduced the security details during the Alaska summit.
The report stated that it is customary for the US Secret Service to provide security during Putin’s visit and must be accompanied by personnel, as per the host country’s responsibility to ensure the guest’s safety.
Funarov pointed out: “It is correct for both the US and Russia to jointly protect Putin, as the host country is responsible for the guest’s safety.”
He emphasized that despite any lack of trust in foreign security agencies, their obligation to provide security cannot be waived. “There have been instances where two security personnel, an American agent and a Russian representative, sit together in the front passenger seat of the main vehicle when a foreign guest visits our country,” he said.
It is reported that the US side may deploy 10-20 agents for Putin’s security, and the Russian and US intelligence departments will negotiate the specific number of agents, but the final decision rests with Russia, who can choose the minimum configuration. The US tends to send more personnel to obtain more intelligence.
However, US agents will not appear in the main vehicle; they can follow the convoy in the second or third vehicle and are not allowed to have close contact with Putin.
Funarov added: “It is necessary to ensure that the number of US personnel does not exceed or match ours. The president will be surrounded by our personnel in the majority.”
While deploying security personnel from both countries, nuclear submarines may also be deployed in the Alaska Sea to protect Putin. From a military perspective, this may serve as a deterrence to keep people from taking any reckless actions. In Funarov’s view, this is precisely why Alaska was chosen as the meeting location. It is difficult for outsiders to access here; typically, there is only one airport within a radius of one thousand kilometers, and it is within the range of nuclear missiles.
Funarov believes that US Secret Service personnel are professionally excellent but their security philosophy differs greatly from that of Russia. While Russia has fixed positions and responsibilities, the US follows a rotating system.
He explained: “You cannot be separated from your environment, which is not just a tactical issue but also a psychological one. You will get familiar with your environment and notice certain individuals. However, if new personnel rotate in, they may become disconnected from the work process.” The American philosophy believes that since everyone receives the same pay, they should be able to perform all positions. They can serve as drivers, work in shifts, or act as personal bodyguards.
Funarov emphasized that this is a serious weakness, but “since the US has always done it this way, it means they are satisfied with this model.”
According to Bloomberg news, the US Secret Service and Putin’s security team coordinate their actions based on the principle of personnel and weapons equivalence, from the number of agents outside the conference room door to the size of the rest room, all must be equivalent.