Fifteen years later, he became the Russian resident in England, which — despite an earlier obligation to the contrary — presently entered an alliance with Sweden.

As the Great Northern War between Russia and Sweden was still going on, Bestuzhev attempted to interfere but was ordered by the English government to leave the country.

Catherine I of Russia, however, ordered him to move to Warsaw in 1726, while Empress Anna removed him to Berlin before having him returned to Stockholm in 1732.

Although the alliance with Sweden was prolonged, Bestuzhev was exposed to street violence more than once and was briefly taken into custody when the new Russo-Swedish War erupted in 1741.

In 1743, he married Golovkin's daughter, Anna Bestuzheva, who was soon involved into the Lopukhina Affair, which resulted in her tongue being torn out.