While the southern border of the United States is as porous as a sieve, our military leadership focuses on woke policies rather than battle tactics, and the Secretary of Defense can suddenly disappear without notice, it is little wonder the news that a recent message that Russian President Vladimir Putin declared the 1867 sale of Alaska “illegal” drew some concern on social media.

Putin signed a new decree last week to allocate funds for the research and registration of Russian property overseas, including that in former territories of the Russian Empire and Soviet Union, Russian state media TASS reported.

The decree, which comes amid Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine, did not specifically mention Alaska, though it caught the attention of military bloggers, who argued Putin was using the decree to declare the 1867 Russian sale of the Last Frontier State to the U.S. is illegal.

The Institute for the Study of War last week noted the “exact parameters of what constitutes current or historical Russia property are unclear.”

“The Kremlin may use the ‘protection’ of its claimed property in countries outside of its internationally recognized borders to forward soft power mechanisms in post-Soviet and neighboring states ultimately aimed at internal destabilization,” the institute wrote in an assessment of the Russian offensive campaign.

It pointed to a Telegram post from a military blogger who suggested Russia could start enacting the law in Alaska and parts of Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia.

Putin signed an order insinuating the sale of Alaska to the United States in 1867 was illegitimate.
This mofo is trolling the West and our leaders shake in their boots in response. pic.twitter.com/2bLu6ShHDb

— Igor Sushko (@igorsushko) January 20, 2024

I doubt this will make many Legal Insurrection readers feel better about the current situation, but our State Department promises that Russia is not getting Alaska back.

Quite frankly, I find more comfort in the humor a former Russian president offered up as a response to this analysis.

The U.S. State Department has dismissed reports that Russian President Vladimir Putin‘s revanchism may extend as far as Alaska after the Kremlin issued a new decree regarding historic Russian real estate holdings abroad.

“I speak for all of us in the U.S. government to say that certainly, he is not getting it back,” State Department principal deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel said to laughter during a press briefing on Monday when asked about Moscow’s purported claim on Alaska.

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The Russian president has previously said his compatriots should “not get worked up” about the “inexpensive” deal, though allies of his have also suggested that Moscow may re-open the issue as a territorial dispute.

Dmitry Medvedev—a former Russian president and prime minister who was once considered a potential successor to Putin before being sidelined—also joked about Moscow’s purported claim on Alaska in a post on X, formerly Twitter.

“This is it, then,” wrote Medvedev, who was once considered a technocratic, liberal counterweight to Putin but has sought to reinvent himself as an ultra-hawkish supporter of the war on Ukraine. “We’ve been waiting for it to be returned any day. Now war is unavoidable,” Medvedev added, ending his post with a laughing emoji.

According to a State Department representative, Russia is not getting back Alaska, which was sold to the U.S. in the 19th century.

This is it, then. And we’ve been waiting for it to be returned any day. Now war is unavoidable 😂

— Dmitry Medvedev (@MedvedevRussiaE) January 22, 2024

The news about the potential Russian takeover of Alaska appears to be an amalgam of hyperbole and fantasy. However, the social media responses to this drama do underscore how weak Biden is perceived….at home and abroad.

Phew. We get to keep Alaska.

The Biden team tells Putin they aren’t giving Alaska back…..

Biden is so weak I was actually worried he might… https://t.co/528T9lWvZd

— Richard Grenell (@RichardGrenell) January 23, 2024

Our readers in Alaska will be heartened by the support they are receiving across the nation.

My reaction to Putin’s declaration that Alaska is part of Russia. https://t.co/HQlFNRa74a pic.twitter.com/Sk6Jr23st6

— Joshua Reed Eakle (@JoshEakle) January 23, 2024

As a California, I am somewhat unhappy with the proposed alternatives being offered to Putin…but I understand.

I was hoping to work a trade for California.

— Anthony Formica (@AnthonyFormic13) January 23, 2024

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