William Burns, the Director of the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), discussed the evolution of intelligence operations and other issues related to the Ukrainian war, competition with China, and the ongoing war in Gaza, in an article published in the American magazine "Foreign Affairs."
Burns noted at the beginning of his article that countries have always kept secrets and tried to protect them, but espionage has been and will remain an integral part of the art of governance. He emphasized that the critical test for the CIA has always been to anticipate and assist policymakers in navigating profound shifts in the international landscape, as well as rare moments that come only a few times every century.
He cited that the United States is witnessing one of those rare moments today, which is no less significant than the dawn of the Cold War or the period following September 11, as the rise of China and Russian revanchism pose enormous geopolitical challenges in a world characterized by intense strategic competition.
#### War in Ukraine
In another section of his article, Burns addressed the Russian-Ukrainian war, stating that President Vladimir Putin has brought shame upon Russia and exposed its weaknesses, leading to significant military and economic losses. He added that Putin's war in Ukraine is quietly eroding his power domestically, and the rebellion initiated by the Wagner Group leader in June was a glimpse of that; he remarked that although Yevgeny Prigozhin was killed, his sharp criticisms of the lies, military miscalculations, and the corruption at the heart of the Russian political system will not disappear anytime soon.
Burns continued: "No one is monitoring U.S. support for Ukraine more closely than Chinese leaders. China remains the only competitor to the United States that has the intention of reshaping the international system and the economic, diplomatic, military, and technological power to do so. The economic transformation that the country has undergone over the past five decades has been exceptional; the issue is not the rise of China per se, but the increasingly accompanying threatening actions."
#### War in Gaza
The CIA director also addressed the ongoing war in Gaza, stating that the October 7 attacks served as a painful reminder of the complexities that the Middle East continues to impose on the United States. He noted that while competition with China remains Washington’s top priority, this does not mean it can evade other challenges; rather, it implies that the U.S. must navigate carefully and with discipline, avoid overreach, and use its influence wisely.
He affirmed that renewed hope for a lasting peace that ensures Israel's security, establishes a Palestinian state, and leverages historical opportunities for normalization with Saudi Arabia and other Arab nations is difficult to envision amidst the current crisis. However, it is hard to imagine emerging from this crisis without seriously pursuing these goals.
He concluded by saying, "The United States is not solely responsible for solving any of the thorny issues in the Middle East. However, none of them can be managed, let alone solved, without active U.S. leadership."
