November 16, 2016
On November 12, 2016, the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies and the Graduate Initiative in Russian Studies hosted a discussion with Russian Ambassador to the United States Sergey Kislyak. The seminar represented a return visit to Monterey by Ambassador Kislyak, who had previously participated in a public conversation moderated by CNS Director William Potter in 2009.
Ambassador Sergey Kislyak, Russian Ambassador to the United States
The lively discussion focused on the state of US-Russian relations and the prospects for their improvement. Ambassador Kislyak and Dr. Potter—who have known one another since shortly after the ambassador began his career in the Soviet diplomatic service—agreed that the US-Russian relationship had plummeted to the lowest level since the end of the Cold War. In that respect, Ambassador Kislyak was optimistic that the relationship could only improve.
One possible area for such progress, which was discussed at length during the seminar, involved expanded interactions and collaboration in the educational sphere. Particular note was taken of the new Dual Degree in Nonproliferation Studies involving MIIS, Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO), and the PIR Center, Moscow, as well as the rapidly expanding body of Russian scholars lecturing at MIIS under the Graduate Initiative in Russian Studies.
Ambassador Sergey Kislyak and CNS Director William Potter
