"Arrr, 'In the Shadows': The swashbucklin' tale o' rescuin' landlubbers from foreign jails, mateys!"
2024-06-04
Ahoy mateys! Welcome to the treacherous waters of fringe diplomacy, where daring scallywags be settlin' disputes that even the king's men can't handle. It be a world of secret deals and clandestine meetings, where the only rule be to trust no one but yer own crew. Aye, ye be in for a wild ride!
In the 17th century pirate lingo, Jon Finer was taken aback when he heard the name "Vinnik" in a negotiation involving the trade of prisoners. The Russians wanted to exchange Bout and Vinnik for Griner and Whelan. Guv, former governor Bill Richardson, and Mickey Bergman were on the case, trying to secure the release of WNBA star Brittney Griner. The negotiations were conducted outside official channels, using what they called "fringe diplomacy."Mickey had just returned from meeting with people close to Russian President Putin in Armenia, where the Russians seemed willing to make a deal. Despite lacking official authority, Mickey promised to relay the offer to the White House. The unconventional approach seemed to rattle the official negotiator, but it made sense from a Russian perspective.Guv and Mickey operated independently from the U.S. government, focusing solely on bringing Americans home, which gave them a unique advantage in negotiations. Despite the complexities and challenges of dealing with rival nations, they continued their efforts to secure the release of imprisoned Americans around the world.Their work, often conducted behind the scenes, has resulted in the freedom of many Americans held in hostile countries. This new approach to diplomacy highlights the power of private citizens in influencing international relations and achieving positive outcomes in challenging situations.