The face of Soviet arms control diplomacy across SALT, INF, and START
"Based on the principle of equality and equal security which precludes superiority by any one party" — arrival statement, Geneva arms talks, March 1985
The Soviet Foreign Ministry's leading arms control diplomat, Karpov guided the Soviet side through the decisive phases of US-Soviet strategic arms negotiations from SALT I and SALT II through INF to START I. After postings as counsellor in Washington and adviser in the MFA's foreign policy planning directorate, he became head of the Arms Limitation and Disarmament Directorate in 1985 and served as chief of the Soviet delegation at the Geneva talks. He steered the INF Treaty (1987) and START I (1991) to completion, and as Deputy Foreign Minister from 1990 oversaw strategic arms relations with Washington until the USSR's final days.
Career Timeline
- 1951Graduated, Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO)
- 1958–1962First Secretary, Foreign Policy Information Directorate, USSR MFA
- 1962–1966Counsellor, Soviet Embassy in Washington
- 1966–1980Adviser, Foreign Policy Planning Directorate, USSR MFA
- 1980–1985Ambassador-at-Large, USSR MFA
- 1985–1990Head, Directorate for Arms Limitation and Disarmament, Collegium Member, USSR MFA
- 1990–1991Deputy Foreign Minister of the USSR
- 1991–1997Senior Adviser, Disarmament Department, Russian MFA