Who Is Andrei Gromyko? Age, Biography and Wiki
Andrei Gromyko was born on July 18, 1909. He was a prominent Soviet diplomat whose career spanned several critical decades in Soviet history, including the Cold War era. Gromyko played significant roles in international relations and was known for his influence in shaping Soviet foreign policy. He passed away in 1989, leaving a lasting legacy in the realm of diplomacy. As of 2025, he would have been 116 years old, had he been alive.
| Occupation | King |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | July 18, 1909 |
| Age | 79 Years |
| Birth Place | Staryye Gromyki, Mogilev Governorate, Russian Empire (now Gomel, Belarus) |
| Horoscope | Cancer |
| Country | Belarus |
| Date of death | 2 July, 1989 |
| Died Place | Moscow, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union |
Popularity
Andrei Gromyko's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
While specific details about Gromyko’s height and weight during his lifetime are not commonly documented, he was noted for his authoritative presence. In his prime, he was regarded as larger-than-life among peers both in stature and influence, symbolizing the strong hand of Soviet diplomacy.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
Andrei Gromyko was married to Anna Alexandrovna, with whom he had two children. The couple maintained a private family life, but Gromyko's professional commitments often kept him at the forefront of international relations. His marriage was a stable foundation throughout his diplomatic endeavors, maintaining a significant public image.
Gromyko's father, Andrei Matveyevich, worked as a seasonal worker in a local factory. Andrei Matveyevich was not a very educated man, having only attended four years of school, but knew how to read and write. He had fought in the Russo-Japanese War of 1904–1905.
Gromyko's mother, Olga Yevgenyevna, came from a poor peasant family in the neighbouring city of Zhelezniki. She attended school only for a short period of time as, when her father died, she left to help her mother with the harvest.
Net Worth and Salary
Although specific figures regarding Gromyko's net worth are difficult to ascertain due to the era he lived in and the lack of transparency regarding salaries of government officials at that time, it is well-acknowledged that as a high-ranking diplomat, he held influential positions that came with financial benefits. His status would have allowed him to have a comfortable lifestyle, often representative of senior governmental roles in the Soviet Union.
After studying in Borisov for two years, Gromyko was appointed principal of a secondary school in Dzyarzhynsk, where he taught, supervised the school, and continued his studies. One day, a representative from the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Byelorussia offered him an opportunity to do post-graduate work in Minsk.
Gromyko traveled to Minsk for an interview with the head of the university, I.M. Borisevich, who explained that a new post-graduate program had been formed for training in economics; Gromyko's record in education and social work made him a desirable candidate.
Gromyko advised Borisevich that he would have difficulty living on a meager student stipend. Borisevich assured him that on finishing the program, his salary would be at the party's top pay grade – "a decent living wage". Gromyko accepted the offer, moving his family to Minsk in 1933.
Gromyko and the other post-graduates were invited to an anniversary reception at which, as recounted in Gromyko's Memoirs:
Career, Business and Investments
Gromyko had a notable career spanning several key positions, including serving as the Soviet ambassador to the United States and later as the Minister of Foreign Affairs. His expertise in diplomacy was highlighted during major events such as the Cuban Missile Crisis and the establishment of détente between the United States and the Soviet Union. Though Gromyko was primarily a diplomat, his involvement in shaping policies led to various indirect investments in international relations, fostering connections that benefitted the Soviet state.
Gromyko's political career started in 1939 in the People's Commissariat for Foreign Affairs (renamed Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1946). He became the Soviet ambassador to the United States in 1943, leaving that position in 1946 to become the Soviet Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York.
Upon his return to Moscow he became a Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and later First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs. He went on to become the Soviet ambassador to the United Kingdom in 1952.
Social Network
While Gromyko did not engage with social networks as we know today, he was an active participant in diplomatic circles and international conferences. His ability to connect with global leaders and exert influence over pivotal negotiations established a network that served to strengthen Soviet interests worldwide. In contemporary discussions, his strategies and insights remain a topic of study among diplomatic historians and international relations scholars.
Following Gorbachev's election as General Secretary, Gromyko lost his office as foreign minister and was appointed to the largely ceremonial post of Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR. Subsequently, he retired from political life in 1988, and died the following year in Moscow.
Education
Gromyko received his education at the Belarusian State University, where he studied agriculture, which tailored the foundation for his analytical skills used in diplomacy. His education, combined with his keen understanding of political dynamics, prepared him for his eventual role in Soviet government, where he became a central figure in foreign policy and international negotiations.
As Foreign Minister of the Soviet Union, Gromyko was directly involved in deliberations with the Americans during the Cuban Missile Crisis and helped broker a peace treaty ending the 1965 Indo-Pakistani War.
Under the leadership of Leonid Brezhnev, he played a central role in the establishment of détente with the United States by negotiating the ABM Treaty, the Partial Nuclear Test Ban Treaty and the SALT I & II, among others.
When Brezhnev suffered a stroke in 1975 impairing his ability to govern, Gromyko effectively dictated policymaking alongside KGB Chairman Yuri Andropov, Defense Minister Andrei Grechko and Grechko's successor, Marshal Dmitry Ustinov.
Even after Brezhnev's death, Gromyko's rigid conservatism and distrust of the West continued to dominate the Soviet Union's foreign policy until Mikhail Gorbachev's rise to power in 1985.
