From Russia and Ukraine to Reagan and Gorbachev: the story of a hotel that has brought adversaries together through history
In the heart of Geneva’s diplomatic district stands a historic luxury hotel where understandings are shaped, intentions tested, and some of the world’s most complex issues managed behind closed doors.
The InterContinental Geneva is hosting, this Tuesday, a new round of Russian–Ukrainian negotiations, adding another diplomatic milestone to a record that dates back to its opening in 1964.
According to Russia Today, the hotel has never been merely an upscale accommodation in the diplomatic quarter; rather, it has served as a backstage venue for sensitive talks and as a practical extension of the nearby Palais des Nations conference halls.
Hafez al-Assad: a recurring guest at pivotal moments
The hotel’s name is closely linked to a series of Syrian–American summits in which Syrian President Hafez al-Assad was a constant participant.
On May 9, 1977, it hosted his meeting with U.S. President Jimmy Carter to discuss the Arab–Israeli conflict.
The scene was repeated on November 23, 1990, with President George H. W. Bush in the aftermath of Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait, and again on January 16, 1994, when al-Assad met President Bill Clinton as part of efforts to advance the Syrian–Israeli peace process.
Between 1977 and 2000, the hotel hosted four Syrian–American summits, establishing itself as a consistent platform for indirect dialogue between Damascus and Washington.
From the Cold War to nuclear détente
At the height of the Cold War, the hotel formed part of the setting for the 1985 Geneva Summit between U.S. President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev.
That summit paved the way for a historic easing of the nuclear arms race and set in motion a process that culminated in the signing of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty.
The hotel also served as an operational extension of the Middle East peace conference, hosting parallel meetings between Soviet Foreign Minister Andrei Gromyko and U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, held discreetly away from the official spotlight for several years.
Attempts to avert wars
On the eve of the outbreak of the first Gulf War in 1991, the hotel hosted a meeting between Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz and U.S. Secretary of State James Baker in a final attempt to prevent military confrontation.
On September 12, 2013, it also brought together U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to discuss Syria’s chemical weapons file, at a moment of intense international tension that ultimately led to agreements on handling Syria’s chemical arsenal.
A stopover for world leaders
Although the 2021 summit between U.S. President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin was officially held at Villa La Grange, the hotel accommodated the accompanying delegations.
It has also hosted or received numerous global figures, including Nelson Mandela, Princess Diana, Indira Gandhi, and the Dalai Lama during their participation in United Nations events.
More than a hotel
Owing to its proximity to international organizations and the ease with which it can be secured, the hotel has also hosted meetings related to OPEC as well as specialized UN conferences, including the 1993 IEEE telecommunications conference.
Today, by hosting Russian–Ukrainian negotiations, the InterContinental Geneva reaffirms its historic role: not merely a luxury hotel, but a space where interests intersect, crises are managed, and prospects for peace are tested. Within its corridors, initiatives that reshape the course of international politics often begin long before they are officially announced.
