Alaska, the U.S.’s largest and northernmost state, is bordered by the Arctic Ocean, Pacific Ocean, Bering Strait, and Canada. Covering 1.7 million sq km, it has the lowest population density in the country but holds immense strategic and resource value. Known for its glaciers, volcanic ranges, and frequent quakes along the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” Alaska was once dismissed as “Seward’s Folly” after the U.S. bought it from Russia in 1867 for $7.2 million. Today, it has become a global focal point,