The candidate for the post of the head of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) William Burns urged the United States not to underestimate Russia. He stated this at a hearing on the consideration of his candidacy. The speech is available on the website of the Special Committee on Intelligence of the US Senate.
“I’ve learned that it is always a mistake to underestimate Russia under [President Vladimir] Putin,” Burns said. At the same time, the candidate for the post of head of the CIA classified the country as a “weakening power”. According to him, during the presidency of the current head of state, Moscow has the same capabilities as “rising powers” like China. In this regard, he considered it necessary to coldly and soberly assess the threats posed by Russia.
According to Burns, it is important for Washington to work as much as possible with allies and partners. “It makes sense to expand the circle of countries that will rebuff Russia,” said the candidate for the post of head of the CIA. He added that American policy is more effective when Moscow sees responses not only from the US, but also from Europe.
Burns was nominated for the post of head of intelligence by the incumbent head of the White House, Joe Biden.
Earlier, Burns called China the largest geopolitical rival of the United States. He stressed that competing with Beijing will be the task of a decade for Washington. The candidate for the post also recalled Biden’s words that “winning the competition over China will be a key [challenge for American] national security in the decades to come.”