American officials quickly discovered a major snag in planning for the summit: summertime is peak tourist season in Alaska, and options both available and equipped to host the two world leaders were severely limited.

When U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin meet in Alaska on Friday, it will be the latest chapter in the 49th state’s long history with Russia — and with international tensions.

Alaska’s complex history and strategic location add weight to the first face-to-face talks between US President Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin since Russia's full scale invasion of Ukraine. View on e