Former U.S. Ambassador to Russia John Beyrle evaluates Putin's Russia and prospects for negotiation

Former U.S. Ambassador to Russia (2008-2012) John Beyrle joined Nicholas Burns, Faculty Chair of the Future of Diplomacy Project, in an off-the-record conversation reflecting on US-Russia negotiations on Syria in Geneva, President Putin’s leadership style and Russia’s global ambitions on September 16, 2013.

Ambassador Beyrle offered critical insight gained from decades of service in the State Department. He provided a sharp perspective on varying diplomatic advances between Russia and Western powers on the Syria question, including the unusual path taken by Russia’s President to address the American public in an opinion piece in the New York Times.  Beyrle stressed that despite the obvious strains between the United States and Russia, a partnership should not discredited. The US-Russia chemical weapons deal for Syria and its role in the international arena made Vladimir Putin personally accountable and gave him a stake in how his country’s efforts would be evaluated by the wider community. The joint effort by Russia and the United States to implement and execute the Geneva Deal may perhaps present further opportunities for cooperation beyond negotiations for the destruction of Syria's chemical weapons. Looking ahead, Beyrle outlined a vision of the different paths Russia might take both domestically and regionally in the upcoming decades. Beyrle cautioned the Americans in the room not to be overly “Putin-centric” and encouraged attendants to proactively work toward reducing lingering Cold War mentalities to increase greater cross-cultural understanding.

Ambassador Beyrle’s visit launched a semester full of events sponsored by the Future of Diplomacy Project at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at the Harvard Kennedy School. Like the Future of Diplomacy Project on Facebook and join us on Twitter to stay up to date.