Russia’s Hybrid Warfare Strategy: Spreading Lies and Conspiracy Theories About Alaska, California and Hawaii
Have you ever wondered what would happen if Russia decided to reclaim its former colonies in North America? Some Russian politicians and media personalities seem to have a vivid imagination when it comes to this hypothetical scenario. In this article, we will examine some of the claims and fantasies that have been circulating in the Russian public sphere about the possibility of invading or annexing the U.S. states of Alaska, California and Hawaii.
The history of Russian colonization of North America dates back to the 18th century, when the Russian Empire expanded its fur trade and exploration to the Pacific coast. Russia established several settlements and forts in present-day Alaska, California and Hawaii, as well as in the Aleutian Islands, the Commander Islands and the Kuril Islands. However, by the mid-19th century, Russia faced economic and political difficulties that forced it to sell its Alaskan territory to the United States in 1867 for $7.2 million. The Russian presence in California and Hawaii also diminished as the American and British influence increased in the region.
Despite losing its foothold in North America, Russia has never completely given up on its historical claims and ambitions. In recent years, as the relations between Russia and the West have deteriorated, some Russian lawmakers, pundits and trolls have revived the idea of challenging the U.S. sovereignty over Alaska, California and Hawaii. For example, in 2014, following the annexation of Crimea by Russia, a petition was launched on the White House website, calling for Alaska to be returned to Russia. The petition gathered more than 40,000 signatures, but was later revealed to be a prank orchestrated by Russian internet users.
However, not all Russian voices are joking when they talk about reclaiming their former colonies. In 2022, a Russian lawmaker named Oleg Matveychev made an outlandish demand that the United States return Alaska and a historic settlement in California, in addition to paying reparations to Russia over crippling American-led sanctions that have put Moscow’s economy in a tailspin. Matveychev also claimed that Russia had discovered Antarctica and that it belonged to Russia as well.
Another example of Russian propaganda and disinformation on this topic can be seen in a recent video posted by TVP World, a Polish public broadcast service. The video, titled “Russian TV Mulls US States as Next Targets for Invasion”, shows a clip from a Russian state TV program, where two hosts discuss the possibility of attacking or seizing Alaska, California or Hawaii. The hosts claim that these states are “historically Russian” and that they have a large Russian diaspora that would welcome a Russian intervention. They also suggest that Russia could use its nuclear weapons or cyberattacks to overcome the U.S. military resistance.
These claims are obviously false and absurd, and they are intended to sow discord and confusion among the American public and the international community. They are part of a larger strategy of hybrid warfare that Russia employs to undermine the credibility and legitimacy of its adversaries, especially the United States and NATO. By spreading lies and conspiracy theories, Russia hopes to create doubt and distrust among the allies, and to erode the support for the democratic values and institutions that they share.
