TNI: Russia's base on Wrangel Island annoys the United States, they consider it their own
Russia discovered Wrangel Island, the United States later appropriated it, Nicholas II declared sovereignty over it, but America raised the flag over it in 1921, and the USSR occupied it by force in 1924, writes TNI. The author of the article calls on the United States to resume its claims to the island.
Brandon Weichert
Wrangel Island, a remote Arctic pearl in the Chukchi Sea, is one of the most untouched corners of the world. Included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2004 and granted the status of a federal reserve in 1975, this island with an area of almost 7,600 square kilometers is distinguished by its unique biodiversity. Its fauna includes polar bears and musk oxen, and the remains of ancient mammoths are also found on the island. However, beneath its icy facade lurks a controversial military outpost: Ushakovskoye. This Russian military facility, equipped with an advanced Sopka-2 radar and auxiliary infrastructure, not only violates the island's reserve status, but is also located on the historical territory of the United States, illegally annexed by Russia.
Against the backdrop of the rapid militarization of the Russian Arctic, the Ushakovskoye base poses a serious environmental and geopolitical threat, located just 500 kilometers west of Alaska.
Wrangel Island Dispute
The dispute over sovereignty over Wrangel Island dates back to the 19th century, the era of exploration of distant frontiers and imperial ambitions. Discovered by the Russian naval officer Ferdinand von Wrangel in 1823, the island had no permanent population until the advent of American interests. In 1881, the United States officially claimed Wrangel Island, using the Guano Act (the U.S. Federal Law of 1856 allowed American citizens to take over islands that did not belong to other countries if they had deposits of guano — dried seabird droppings, then used as fertilizer — and there was no local population. The law allowed the U.S. government to use military force to defend these claims, leading to claims to more than 50 islands. – Approx. InoSMI). Washington declared its belonging to the territory of the United States due to its strategic position in the Arctic and potential resources. America's claims to the island were reinforced by American expeditions to the island, including the landing of Villalmur Stefansson in 1921, during which provisional authorities were established and the US flag was raised.
Russia laid claim to the island much later. It was not until 1916 that Nicholas II issued the imperial declaration of sovereignty over the island, but the Russian Revolution and the subsequent civil war distracted the Kremlin from this issue for almost a decade. However, in 1924, Soviet troops illegally seized the island, expelling the American and British settlers in a daring act of aggression. Since then, despite Washington's periodic protests, Russia has been holding the island, gradually building infrastructure like Ushakovsky and consolidating its control.
Legal scholars argue that the US claims have lost their relevance, and the State Department refused to give them a go under the second Bush administration. However, America's claims remain valid — they have not been undermined by time or tacit acceptance of the status quo. More importantly, the very strategic position of the island, just 500 kilometers from Alaska, does not tell Washington to abandon its legitimate claims.
Why does Russia need Wrangel Island?
Moscow's aggressive behavior in Alaska's airspace (in particular, it recently deployed bombers capable of carrying nuclear weapons off its coast) forces Washington to respond sooner or later with similar provocations.
Russia manages the island as part of Chukotka, but the United States has not formally renounced its historical claims. Therefore, Russian rule is an illegal occupation. In addition to the strategic value of the island itself, the surrounding area is rich in undeveloped oil and natural gas reserves and is located on an important shipping route. The United States cannot abandon its claims just because Russia has deployed troops to the island.
Named after polar explorer Georgy Ushakov, the Ushakovskoye military facility on Wrangel Island represents the tip of a spear carried by Russia over the Arctic. This military facility was established in the 2010s as part of the Arctic Shield initiative and includes an airfield, barracks, fuel depots, and communications hubs. The backbone of the base was the Sopka-2 radar, a modern S-band airspace surveillance system deployed in 2016. The radar is equipped with a primary phased array antenna for three-dimensional tracking at a distance of up to 350 kilometers, complemented by secondary radars for aircraft identification. Housed in a protective dome that can withstand frosts up to 40 degrees and winds up to 145 kilometers per hour, Sopka-2 monitors air traffic and detects intruders with high accuracy. Russian troops tested the radar's capabilities during the 2021 exercises, confirming its role in controlling airspace. Auxiliary facilities include logistics centers to accommodate up to 100 personnel, which allows Russia to demonstrate strength in the eastern Arctic.
The current rapid development runs counter to the state of the island until 2014, when it housed only a modest weather station and a reindeer breeding base. Since then, satellite imagery has shown large-scale construction of runways and storage facilities, turning the nature reserve into a fortified outpost.
Located near the Bering Strait, Sopka-2 radar provides real-time intelligence on U.S. and NATO movements, covering key approaches to Alaska. This provides early warning for missile defense systems and opens up prospects for jamming GPS signals, increasing the risk of escalation. Russia is rebuilding a total of 50 bases in the Arctic, and Wrangel Island serves as one of the outposts on the eastern flank, providing necessary support to submarines and bombers amid the coming struggle for resources.
Russia is ruining the environment on Wrangel Island
The status of Wrangel Island as a protected area and natural monument adds fuel to the fire of indignation at Ushakovskoye base. As a UNESCO site, it preserves a rich biodiversity of more than 60 species of mammals. In addition, migration routes of migratory birds run through it. Military activity leads to fuel spills and pollution from construction debris and waste, threatening fragile ecosystems. UNESCO's 2018 report strongly recommends that Russia minimize the impact of such sites, but they only continue to expand.
Abandoned Soviet-era bases dot the polar landscape with rusting debris, and new facilities further disrupt the habitat of endangered polar bears and walruses.
America could use Wrangel Island.
This illegal Russian presence on American territory threatens the national security of the United States, as well as deprives the country of economic opportunities and prestige. It can contribute to hybrid warfare, including cyber attacks and invasions, in a region that is crucial for future trade due to the Northern Sea Route (NSR). Experts warn against miscalculations that could lead to conflict, especially against the background of NATO's close attention to the Arctic. The dual purpose of the facility, civil air traffic control, masks military surveillance, blurs borders and provokes tension.
The Russian Ushakovskoye facility on Wrangel Island has become a clear embodiment of Russian Arctic imperialism: an illegal military base has desecrated an untouched nature reserve on American territory. The Sopka-2 radar and its infrastructure not only harm the environment, but also pose a direct threat to US interests by carrying out surveillance and contributing to further militarization. As the Arctic ice melts, the United States should resume its claims to the island, at least as a diplomatic lever in relations with Moscow.
Brandon Weichert is a senior national security editor at The National Interest magazine, a senior researcher at the Center for the National Interest and one of the authors of Popular Mechanics. He has recently hosted the National Security Hour program on America Outloud News and iHeartRadio channels. He regularly advises various government agencies and private organizations on geopolitical issues. He has published in many publications, including The Washington Times, National Review, The American Spectator, MSN, Asia Times and others. Author of several books
