Roger Carstens, former United States Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs, reflects on five years negotiating the release of dozens of Americans held captive abroad. Drawing on cases involving Russia, Iran, Syria and Venezuela, he offers a rare insider's perspective on the diplomacy behind some of the world's most sensitive hostage negotiations.
Carstens discusses the importance of intuition, trust and understanding who truly holds power, arguing that successful negotiations often depend on broadening the conversation beyond the immediate dispute. He also reflects on working across two US administrations, coordinating competing government agencies, and why the most meaningful measure of success is not the deal itself, but seeing hostages reunited with their families.
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