We would expect them to choose traditionally neutral Switzerland, perhaps the Emirates, or even Rome, Budapest and Constantinople, cities that would not miss the opportunity to host a meeting that could prove historic.

But Donald Trump surprised by choosing Vladimir Putin for this Friday’s meeting with Alaska.

The vast, relatively isolated, American state doesn’t have many places that could host such a meeting, which also has big security requirements.

On Tuesday, the president’s spokeswoman, Caroline Leavitt, said the meeting would be held in Anchorage, but even now, three days before the two leaders meet one-on-one, the White House has not released many details.

But authorities in the state don’t know much either, writes the Anchorage Daily News.

Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy and both state senators could not provide details. The mayor of Anchorage, Alaska’s largest city, said her city has not been involved in the preparations.

However, the Civil Air Patrol has imposed airspace restrictions around the city.

This “suggests” that the city’s airport may be a possible meeting place. It was chosen in 1984 by then-President Ronald Reagan when he met with Pope John Paul II, who was passing through Alaska.

At another airport, a military one this time, at Elmendorf base, Richard Nixon and Japanese Emperor Hirohito, also passing through, had met in 1971.

Anchorage International Airport and Elmendorf Air Force Base are among the few places in the state with runways long enough for Air Force One and the Russian presidential aircraft. In addition, few Alaska airports near enough infrastructure for the crowded presidential entourage.

One possible meeting place is, in town, the Captain Cook Hotel. In 2017, it briefly hosted China’s President Xi Jinping for a short time. He, too, was passing through Alaska after meeting with Trump in Florida.

Interestingly, finally, the summit will coincide with two large-scale military exercises in Alaska.

The Northern Edge is scheduled to begin on Thursday and run through August 29. Simultaneously, the Arctic Edge 2025 exercises are being conducted at the same time and will run through August.