‘Gun for gun’: How security is being matched at the Trump–Putin Alaska summit

Washington: US President Donald Trump is set to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday for a crucial summit at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, the largest military facility in Alaska.

Speaking to Fox News on Thursday, Trump said he was unsure whether “an immediate ceasefire” deal between Russia and Ukraine could be reached during the talks, but stressed that he hoped to see a broad peace agreement concluded quickly.

“I’ll know within the first two minutes, three minutes, four minutes or five minutes... whether or not we’re going to have a good meeting or a bad meeting,” Trump said.

“And if it’s a bad meeting, it’ll end very quickly, and if it’s a good meeting, we’re going to end up getting peace in the pretty near future.”

Why is the summit being held on a US base?

According to the Hindustan Times, four people involved in planning the summit told Bloomberg that holding the meeting on American soil allows the Secret Service to transport weapons, communications tools and medical equipment without foreign restrictions.

However, Anchorage’s limited number of hotel rooms and its small rental car market have posed challenges. As a result, vehicles and other assets are being brought in by air or driven from other parts of Alaska. Motorcade SUVs are being flown in on cargo aircraft.

“We’re in the height of tourist season, so hotels are tight, cars are tight,” Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy told Bloomberg Television on Thursday. “Having this on the base alleviates a lot of issues.”

How will security be managed?

Officials have explained that any courtesy extended to one leader must also be given to the other. While Russian security officers will control President Putin’s immediate movements, the US Secret Service will manage the outer security ring.

Neither delegation will open the other’s vehicle doors, nor will they ride in each other’s cars. Security personnel will also be matched in number on both sides, “If 10 US agents are posted outside a meeting room, 10 Russian agents will stand on the other side.”

“Everything is matched body for body, gun for gun,” one source told Bloomberg.

The Secret Service is still waiting for formal approval from Russia on the full security plan, according to those involved in the preparations.

“The safety of the President is our highest priority,” the Secret Service said in a statement.

“In order to maintain operational security, the Secret Service does not discuss the specific means and methods used to conduct our protective operations.”