Pompeo sworn in the new US ambassador to Russia: what is known about him

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo took the oath of office of the new American ambassador to Russia John Sullivan. He wrote about this on his Twitter, writes RBC.

Фото: Depositphotos

According to Pompeo, the new ambassador will be able to effectively coordinate efforts to strengthen cooperation and build constructive relations between the US and Russia.

In December 2019, the Senate approved Sullivan's candidacy for the post of U.S. ambassador to Russia. Then he was supported by 70 senators, while 22 voted against. A previous U.S. ambassador, John Huntsman, resigned in October following a decision to run for governor of Utah.

On the eve of Sullivan held talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, during which he said that improving relations between Moscow and Washington depends on the Russian side’s commitment to the Minsk agreements and "renunciation of efforts to undermine our democratic processes."

Who is John Sullivan?

John Sullivan is 60 years old, he was born in Boston, Massachusetts, writes with the BBC.

Since May 2017, he has been Deputy Secretary of State for the United States.

A lawyer by training, he received a doctorate in law from Columbia University.

He joined the civil service in 1991 at the Department of Justice, where he began as an adviser to the assistant attorney general.

In 1992, he was Deputy Chief Counsel for the election campaign of 43 US President George W. Bush.

He later held a high position in the legal service of the US Department of Defense.

Under Barack Obama, he headed the intergovernmental group “US-Iraq: Business Dialogue.”

Why Sullivan's appointment is unexpectedoh?

With a wealth of public service experience, John Sullivan is not a career diplomat, and his appointment to Moscow raises many questions.

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The head of the American diplomatic mission in Russia is a very important position in the US diplomatic hierarchy, especially at the moment when relations between the two countries are in the worst state since the Cold War.

On the one hand, Sullivan is familiar with the Russian establishment, as he recently led negotiations with the Russian side on the fight against terrorism and arms control.

At the same time, he played an important role in the matter of toughening anti-Russian sanctions.

And if he understands a large international agenda, then as ambassador he will have to solve many problems where previous practical experience would be very useful.

For example, among the priority cases he will have to deal with the decision of the Russian Foreign Ministry to refuse visas to 30 teachers who were waiting in Moscow at the Anglo-American school.

The school operates at the embassies of the USA, UK and Canada. Replenishment of teachers was expected in August, by the beginning of the school year, but in July they were denied Russian visas.

This situation is very serious, because due to the lack of teaching staff a significant number of students-children of foreign diplomats will have to be expelled.

What do they expect from the US ambassador?

There is a rather atypical situation regarding the USA towards Russia, when the views of the president and the political establishment do not coincide.

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Donald Trump has repeatedly complimented Vladimir Putin and yesterday even suggested returning him to the G8, which became the G7 after Russia was expelled from the organization due to the annexation of Crimea.

However, rapprochement of countries does not occur. The United States continues to tighten anti-Russian sanctions, and despite the completion of an official investigation by Special Prosecutor Mueller, many in the corridors of the Capitol continue to believe that Russia intervened in the 2016 US elections.

In the face of such internal disagreements, it will not be easy for the new ambassador to meet the expectations of all. Donald Trump gives Sullivan excellent characteristics and believes that a person without much experience in diplomacy can begin his diplomatic career in such a complex country as Russia.

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