The Silicon Review ^Asia

90’s action star Steven Seagal has been named as Russia’s special representative to the U.S. According to Russia’s Foreign Ministry, he has been recruited to assist cooperation in culture and arts, and to promote American-Russian relations in the humanitarian sphere. It is not a conventional choice to recruit an actor as an ambassador to improve ties with the U.S.

Seagal has been supported by Russian President Vladimir Putin in past few years. It is not the first time he has tried to offer Seagal this huge official status. In 2013, Putin suggested to the then U.S. President Barack Obama to appoint Seagal as an envoy of Russia.

Seagal was given Russian citizenship back in 2016 where he was seen speaking in defense of Putin and praising his leadership qualities. Reportedly, he is on good terms with Putin. He also attended a recent oath ceremony held in Moscow on May 7, 2018, when Putin was re-elected as the Russian President. He is a staunch supporter of Putin and he supported his governance against allegations of election meddling. "For anyone to think that Vladimir Putin had anything to do with fixing the elections, or even that the Russians have that kind of technology, is stupid," he said in an interview in support of Putin.

Their friendship appears as a reason for offering Steven this post. According to the Foreign Ministry, this role is similar to the United Nation’s goodwill ambassador position.