U.S. Stages B-2 Show of Force as Trump, Putin Meet in Alaska

On Friday, the U.S. Air Force showcased its formidable airpower as President Donald Trump greeted Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, setting the stage for a critical summit focused on the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

As the two leaders met on the tarmac, a B-2 Spirit stealth bomber soared overhead, accompanied by four F-35 fighter jets, creating a dramatic display above the base flightline. The flyover, witnessed by gathered media and dignitaries, highlighted U.S. capabilities amid an ongoing and intense conflict in Eastern Europe.

The B-2, recognized as one of the most sophisticated bombers in the U.S. military's inventory, has played a pivotal role in several of this year's most notable operations in the Middle East. This week, two of the Air Force's 19 B-2 bombers made their way to Alaska from Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri, the home base for the fleet. Flight data revealed that both aircraft touched down in the hours leading up to the summit.

In a striking display of military capability, the recent maneuvers follow the pivotal involvement of the bombers in Operation Midnight Hammer. This operation, which took place in June, marked a significant long-range strike where seven B-2s successfully deployed 14 Massive Ordnance Penetrators on Iranian nuclear facilities before making their way back to Missouri.

Officials have yet to clarify if the flyover on Friday was directly linked to the summit. Meanwhile, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson is actively engaged in Northern Edge 2025, a significant multi-domain exercise that includes U.S. forces throughout Alaska. The B-2s have taken part in the biannual drills in the past.

The scenery of Alaska held its significance. For decades, U.S. and Russian aircraft have engaged in routine tests of each other's capabilities in the Arctic skies, as U.S. fighters are frequently dispatched to intercept Russian bombers that venture into the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone. In recent years, there has been a notable rise in these encounters, coinciding with Moscow's expansion of its military presence in the region.

As they made their way through the airfield, Trump and Putin strolled alongside a lineup of F-22 Raptor fighters from the 3rd Wing, stationed at Elmendorf, before stepping into a hangar for their private discussions.

The White House has presented the Alaska summit as an opportunity to address the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, which is now in its fourth year, alongside discussions on Arctic security and nuclear arms control. The meeting takes place against a backdrop of escalating tensions, driven by Russia's strengthening defense relationship with China and the ongoing imposition of Western sanctions.

The Pentagon and Whiteman Air Force Base have yet to respond the recent B-2 flyover.

On Friday evening, the summit between Trump and Putin continued to unfold.