Brittney Griner’s release and the strategic value of good diplomacy

Miracles happen. But so does good diplomacy.

The release of WNBA star Brittney Griner is a huge moment for Griner and for America at a time when public confidence in government is low.

Griner was detained in February at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport, charged with possessing vape cannisters with cannabis oil. She faced years of difficult imprisonment in Russia, having recently been moved to a labor detention camp with harsh conditions.

President Biden and his team deserve credit for negotiating a deal for the release of Griner in exchange for Russia arms dealer Viktor Bout, known as the “Merchant of Death.” Bout was in the middle of a 25-year sentence in a U.S. federal prison.

Months of delicate diplomatic negotiations took place against the backdrop of war between Russia and Ukraine during which Biden put an offer on the table and Russian President Vladimir Putin played a wait-and-see game. 

These kinds of hostage deals require multiple officials from the State Department, CIA and, of course, the U.S. Embassy in Moscow doing delicate balancing acts — the art of diplomacy. “This is a day we’ve worked toward for a long time. We never stopped pushing for her release,” Biden said.