U.S.-Russia Relations: Status of the 'Reset'

The University of Michigan is pleased to announce the upcoming visit of John Beyrle, U.S. Ambassador to the Russian Federation. Ambassador Beyrle will deliver a public lecture titled 'U.S.-Russia Relations: Status of the 'Reset',' at the University of Michigan Alumni Center.

A career Foreign Service Officer and specialist in Russian and East European Affairs, Ambassador Beyrle has held the top position in the Moscow Embassy since July 2008. This will be a unique opportunity to hear from a leading public official about U.S. foreign relations policy under the Obama administration. Ambassador Beyrle will address what the highly publicized 'reset' means and in what areas the Obama administration intends to concentrate its efforts.

Born in Muskegon, Michigan, Ambassador Beyrle received his bachelor's degree from Grand Valley State University and a master's degree from the National War College. He has worked for the State Department since 1983, previously holding positions at the embassies in Moscow and Prague, and serving as the Ambassador to Bulgaria from 2005-2008.

Ambassador Beyrle's talk comes at a time when U.S. foreign relations are undergoing a conceptual shift, and the relationship with Russia is as important as it was in the days following the end of the Cold War. Nuclear arms reduction, the placement of U.S. missile shields in Europe, concerns about energy security, and strategic decisions about how to deal with Iran are all at the forefront of international policy decisions. In the 21st century, the United States and Russia continue to be global leaders, and Ambassador Beyrle is on the front lines of managing the relationship between the superpowers of the 20th century.

SPONSORS: International Policy Center, Weiser Center for Emerging Democracies, Center for Russian and East European Studies, and Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy

• Russia
• John Beyrle