us-russia SECURITY program

The US-Russia Security Program began in 1991 to provide Russian general officers a neutral environment for the discussion of security issues and to encourage the kind of free thinking inherent in the American democratic system.  With the addition of American counterparts in 1997, the program acquired new meaning, becoming a unique forum for open communication between the Russian and American militaries.  The program was further modified in 2002 to recognize the contribution of senior civilians in defense and defense-related establishments.  Since that time, select senior civilians with security-related functions have participated.  The most recent addition to the program is an annual workshop in Moscow that brings together Russian and American program alumni with academic specialists, current military leaders, and senior government officials. Since 1991, it has hosted approximately 189 American and 356 Russian participants.  The program aims to:

Deepen the understanding of global and regional security issues, defense organization, and military reform and restructuring;

Explore specific ways to cooperate on issues of vital interest to both countries;

Engage the Russian senior officials in a free flow of ideas inherent in the pluralistic American system;

Promote critical thinking across the entire spectrum of subject matter;

Encourage networking for both official and social endeavors;

Provide environment for casual interaction between US and Russian senior defense official

The November 2007 program hosted 29 Russian and American participants representing ground, air, and sea services.  The Russian participants began their study in London, where they visited training centers and had a seminar at IISS.    The program culminated in Cambridge, MA, where they joined the American participants for a one-week curriculum at the Kennedy School focusing on US-Russian relations and a wide array of international security issues. 

The next US-Russia Security program will take place November 26 – Dec 8, 2008 in Brussels, London and Cambridge, MA.

us-russia SECURITY program regional WORKSHOPS

An important component of the US-Russia Security Program, added in 2004, is an annual workshop.  that brings together Russian and American alumni, American representatives from EUCOM, European representatives from NATO and the EU, and select academic and regional specialists.  The objectives of the workshops are: 1) to foster an open and ongoing discussion of defense and security concerns relevant to the United States, Russia, and Eurasia; 2) to strengthen the personal relationships developed during the Kennedy School component of the program; 3) to provide a Russian counterpoint to the Kennedy School experience by giving Russian, American and European participants the opportunity to interact on Russian soil; and 4) to identify key individuals for future iterations of the program.  The 2005 Harvard US-Russia Security Regional Workshop took place in Moscow from September 24-27.  Approximately 40 participants from Russia, the United States and Europe gathered to discuss international cooperation in fighting terrorism.  The United Kingdom participated in this program for the first time.  We were pleased to host US Ambassador to Russia, William Burns, at the 2005 workshop.

The US-Russia Security Program is funded by a generous grant from the Carnegie Corporation of New York, with additional support from the US Department of Defense. For more information, please contact Program Director Sergei Konoplyov at (617) 495-8046, or sergei_konoplyov@harvard.edu