On Saturday, CIA Director Bill Burns expressed hope to present a “more detailed” proposal for a ceasefire and hostage deal to negotiators from Israel and Hamas in the near future. He emphasized that the success of the plan will ultimately depend on the “political will” of both parties involved.
Burns made these comments during a rare joint public appearance with Richard Moore, the head of MI6, at the FT Weekend Festival. The two intelligence chiefs highlighted the critical importance of the US-UK intelligence partnership amidst current global challenges, particularly those posed by Russian aggression. They also supported Ukraine’s recent offensive into Russia’s Kursk region, with Moore stating it “changed the narrative,” and Burns calling it a “significant tactical achievement.”
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Regarding the ongoing Gaza conflict, Burns mentioned that the US is working diligently with mediators from Egypt and Qatar to refine a framework proposed by President Biden in May. This framework aims to combine the release of hostages with a comprehensive ceasefire and includes plans for the phased withdrawal of Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) from Gaza. Burns acknowledged that while “90% of the paragraphs have been agreed to,” the remaining 10% is “the hardest part to do” in negotiations.
Burns underscored the gravity of the situation, noting that what is at stake is “in human terms,” referring to the harsh conditions faced by hostages and the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza.
The framework, first announced by Biden on May 31, has faced scrutiny from both sides. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has insisted that Israeli forces will not withdraw from the Philadelphi Corridor along the Egypt-Gaza border. The urgency of the situation increased following the discovery of six hostages’ bodies in a Gaza tunnel, including Israeli-American Hersh Goldberg-Polin.
In addition, Burns and Moore addressed the broader geopolitical landscape, particularly the threat from Russia. Burns highlighted the success of US-UK intelligence collaboration in providing early warnings about the Russian invasion of Ukraine, noting, “Going back to the fall of 2021, the two of us together, our services together, were able to provide credible, early, accurate warning of the invasion that was coming.”
Burns also spoke of the “novel approach” used to declassify certain information, which he believes placed Putin in a “unaccustomed and uncomfortable position” and helped counter false narratives. On the topic of China, Moore warned that President Xi Jinping is “likely China’s most powerful leader since Mao Zedong” with a “tight control over his political system” and an “ambitious agenda at home and also overseas.”
Regarding potential Russian escalation, Burns acknowledged that there was a “genuine risk” of tactical nuclear weapons use in late 2022 but stressed that Putin’s aggressive posturing should not intimidate Western responses. He added that President Biden had made it clear to Russian counterpart Sergei Naryshkin what the consequences of such escalation would be.
Burns praised Ukraine’s recent offensive into Kursk as a “significant tactical achievement” that challenges Putin’s confidence and reveals vulnerabilities in Russian military capabilities. He noted that developments like this and last year’s brief insurrection by former Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin have dented the Kremlin’s narrative.
Both Burns and Moore reiterated the need for ongoing focus on China and its role on the international stage. Moore emphasized that China’s actions “contests our interests, contests often our values.” Their discussion was preceded by a jointly penned editorial highlighting the global order’s current threats, which they described as unprecedented since the Cold War.
(Includes inputs from online sources)
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