An Attack on Alaska Would Mean War with Russia
People across the world were shocked when Russia invaded Ukraine last February marking one of the biggest military attacks in recent history. As soon as the attack commenced, many across the globe feared the move could spark World War III.
Now that Russia’s attack against Ukraine has been going on for over six months, the country has yet to attack any other region. But there have been a slew of threats coming from Russian President Vladimir Putin and his political allies since the attack on Ukraine began.
From the beginning, Putin has warned the U.S. and every other country in NATO that if they interfere with its military action against Ukraine, there would be dire consequences. Putin has even reminded the world that Russia is one of the globe’s most powerful nuclear forces to the point where many have seen it as a threat to use nuclear weapons.
Last July, the threats from Russia reached a new level when Dmitry Medvedev, the deputy secretary of Russia’s Security Council, mentioned that Russia could attempt to attack Alaska and take it back as its territory. The threats came about after the U.S. called for an international tribunal to investigate Russia’s war on Ukraine.
Putin aid Vyacheslav Volodin also warned that Alaska was once a territory of Russia. “When they (the U.S.) attempt to appropriate our assets abroad, they should be aware that we also have something to claim back,” Volodin said during a meeting with lawmakers.
Since then, many experts have agreed that the chances that Russia will pose some sort of attack on Alaska are rare. But just the threat could impact the U.S. and its military. And in the instance that an attack did take place, most agree that NATO would see it as a declaration of war from Russia.
Potential Impacts on Colorado
Colorado is home to six military bases – five of which are located in the Pikes Peak region. The state has the 11th highest share of military personnel out of the 50 states with active military personnel making up 639 out of every 100,000 people. Therefore, any sort of war or military action tends to affect Colorado more than many other states.
Peterson Space Force Base in Colorado Springs is also the home of the headquarters for the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), which provides aerospace warning and protection for the United States and Canada. The Cheyenne Mountain Complex that once housed NORAD still has the Alternate Command Center. NORAD also has a control center in Alaska that helps protect that region.
Just the threats from Russia could have forced NORAD to heighten its security in the country’s northernmost state, but an actual attack would mean that the U.S. military would have to react. Even though it is difficult to speculate on the impact on military personnel in Colorado, statistics from previous wars and military conflicts could help paint a picture of how the state would be affected.
According to information put out by the Watson Institute of International & Public Affairs at Brown University, Colorado had over the national average of people in the state per capita serving in Post-9/11 Wars in 2019. With over 1,700 Colorado troops serving in 2019, the state ranked in sixth place for having the most troops at war in relation to population size. The data also showed that soldiers from Colorado made up 1.52 percent of the total number of fatalities in Iraq and Afghanistan from all of the states combined.
Alaska Reassures that its Defenses are Strong
Alaska is the only state in the U.S. that borders Russia and the foreign country is only about 50 miles away on average. At the closest point, the two countries are only about three miles away (between Little Diomede Island, Alaska, and Big Diomede Island, Chukotka, Russia).
Shortly after Russia launched its attack on Ukraine, the CIA told the House Intelligence Committee that the threat of an attack by Russia had increased. Shortly after, Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy told Fox News that the state’s skies are constantly monitored for foreign military aircraft and that they are prepared for any sort of “belligerent behavior.”
“The state of Alaska is strongly defended by active duty, Guard and Reserve forces,” Dunleavy said. “Alaska Army National Guard members provide operational control and security for the nation’s ground-based interceptors at Fort Greely in the Interior. The state of Alaska is strongly defended by U.S. military forces, including enforcement of the U.S. Maritime Defense Zone.”
Even though experts don’t feel think that Russia’s recent threats against Alaska would lead to any sort of military action soon, the U.S. armed forces remain prepared for any potential attacks on American soil.
