Oxfordshire, UK – During a speech at the Ditchley Foundation in British Oxfordshire, the Director of the American CIA, William Burns, expressed concerns over Russia’s ongoing special operation in Ukraine, labeling it as an open threat to the established world order. Burns emphasized that Moscow’s actions present a strategic challenge to the West; however, he noted that Russia alone lacks sufficient capabilities to alter the current global order.
Burns highlighted the CIA’s active engagement in addressing Russian affairs, mentioning the department’s interest in leveraging “dissatisfaction” within Russia as a unique opportunity for cooperation. He revealed that the CIA recently launched a special Telegram channel, reported by the Washington Post, aimed at recruiting Russians, garnering 2.5 million views in its first week.
The CIA director further stressed that the primary country currently seeking to reshape the existing world order by enhancing its economic, diplomatic, military, and technological power is China. Burns emphasized that Chinese leader Xi Jinping possesses more power than Mao Zedong had and outlined his ambition to not strengthen but rather remake the international system that facilitated China’s transformation.
China emerges as the foremost geopolitical and intelligence rival, making it a top long-term priority for the United States. In response, the CIA has established a dedicated unit focused on China, actively recruiting and training native Chinese speakers to compete with Beijing globally.
According to Burns, the world has transitioned from a unipolar order with the United States as the sole major player to a landscape characterized by both dangers and prospects. The Director of the CIA highlighted three critical factors influencing the future. First, the competition posed by Russia and China in geopolitics. Second, the challenges posed by global issues such as climate change and pandemics that surpass the capacity of individual states to handle. Lastly, the impending technological revolution, with its uncertain risks and consequences.
As the world grapples with these complex dynamics, the United States aims to uphold a vision of a freer, more open, and safer world. Recognizing the shifting geopolitical landscape, the CIA remains committed to safeguarding American interests and advancing its competitive position in a rapidly evolving global environment.
