Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) candidate William Burns has urged the US not to underestimate Russia. He stated this at a hearing on the consideration of his candidacy. 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 one of the “weakening powers”. 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 assess the threats emanating from Russia coldly and soberly.
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's candidacy for the post of head of the intelligence agency was put forward by the incumbent head of the White House, Joe Biden.
Burns previously named China as the United States' largest geopolitical rival. 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.”
