Trump Displays Power by Deploying B-2 Bomber as Putin Arrives... "Pressure for Ceasefire Agreement"

On the 15th (local time), as Donald Trump, the President of the United States, and Vladimir Putin, the President of Russia, appeared on the runway at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson to discuss a Ukraine war ceasefire, a sudden roar echoed from above, heightening the tension. The noise was produced by a showcase flight of a B-2 Spirit stealth strategic bomber—America's cutting-edge strategic asset—accompanied by four state-of-the-art F-35 fighters providing escort.

Both leaders paused for a moment and looked up at the sky. President Trump lightly applauded and then proceeded to the podium alongside President Putin.

As the two leaders walked along the carpet, four F-22 fighters were lined up on the ground on either side. The F-22, with its stealth capabilities, is considered the strongest fighter jet in the world and is so secret that its export is prohibited by law, marking it as a source of pride for the U.S. Air Force.

The fact that the U.S. arranged such an event to coincide with President Putin's arrival seems intended to demonstrate the country’s unmatched military power. The B-2 bomber was also deployed last June when the U.S. carried out a surprise strike on Iran's nuclear facilities. Capable of delivering nuclear weapons, it can also be loaded with the giant bunker buster GBU-57 used during the Iran strike, making it a core asset among the core of U.S. air power.

While Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson serves as home to key combat squadrons of the U.S. Army and Air Force, the ‘welcoming flight’ that included the B-2 bomber was clearly a purposeful display. As securing a ‘ceasefire’ agreement for the Ukraine war is the top priority of this summit, it can be interpreted as an attempt to exert psychological pressure on President Putin by demonstrating the essence of American military might.

The American daily The New York Times (NYT) analyzed the scene, saying, "Trump is a de facto producer of his presidency," and that "the scenes of the flight formation, the handshake with Putin, and the walk down the red carpet were all meticulously staged." They added, "In just a few seconds, President Trump displayed the most prominent and loudest symbol of America's national power."

Soo-Rim Park, Hankyung.com Reporter, paksr365@hankyung.com