On the 15th, local time, U.S. President Trump and Russian President Putin held a meeting in Anchorage, Alaska. The meeting was held in a three-to-three format and lasted for more than two and a half hours.
After the meeting, Trump said at a press conference that the talks were productive, but both sides did not reach an agreement on important issues. Putin stated that Russia’s concerns must be taken into account to end the conflict in Ukraine.
The special plane of Russian President Putin arrived at the Elmendorf-Richardson Joint Military Base in Anchorage on the 15th. According to media footage released on site, the red carpet was very eye-catching against the backdrop of a cloudy sky, but on both sides of the carpet were four F-22 “Raptor” stealth fighters belonging to the US Air Force.
Moreover, as Putin and Trump walked on the red carpet, a B-2 “Ghost” stealth bomber and four fighter jets flew overhead in a tight formation at high speed.
There were different interpretations from US media about this “grand display”. CNN reported that laying a red carpet usually shows respect, but parking advanced US military aircraft on both sides is a display of force. Some US military media also pointed out that both the F-22 fighter and the B-2 bomber were developed by the US during the Cold War to counter the Soviet Union.
The editor of CCTV’s Global News Radio’s “Global Military Report”, Wei Dongxu, analyzed that the deployment of “Raptors” on both sides of the red carpet and the flying of “Ghost” above it was a “showing off” behavior by the US side. The Elmendorf-Richardson Joint Base is a “frontline nest” of the US Air Force facing Russia, and hosts the 3rd Fighter Wing and its F-22 “Raptor” stealth fighters.
The main mission of the F-22 “Raptors” deployed in Alaska is to track and intercept strategic bombers of the Russian Aerospace Forces in the airspace of the Bering Strait. The B-2 “Ghost” stealth bomber is part of the US “triad” nuclear deterrence system and has nuclear strike capability.
The welcoming ceremony of “red carpet + raptor + ghost” fits Trump’s style, showing a willingness to dialogue, but not giving up the “big stick” in his hand. At the welcoming ceremony, displaying “raptors” and showing off the “ghost” does not count as a friendly signal.
Source: CCTV Global News Radio