Heads of intelligence from the US and UK rarely speak with one voice: The international order is under severe threat | WPN World People News

On September 7, CIA Director William Burns and MI6 Chief Richard Moore attended the Financial Times Weekend Festival in London, where they warned that the international order is facing the greatest threat since the Cold War. This threat encompasses Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the rise of China, and the deteriorating situation in the Middle East. They praised Ukraine's counteroffensive in Russia's Kursk region earlier in August and emphasized the critical importance of the US-UK alliance in addressing these challenges.

During their joint interview with the Financial Times on September 7, Burns and Moore highlighted that despite enduring two world wars, the Cold War, and joint efforts against international terrorism, the special relationship between the US and the UK has remained a close and indispensable alliance. They celebrated the 75th anniversary of their partnership two years ago. With the ongoing Ukraine-Russia war and unprecedented global threats since the Cold War, the importance of their intelligence partnership is more pronounced, and they will continue to strengthen cooperation, including intelligence sharing.

Burns and Moore mentioned that the CIA and MI6 are working together to address Russia's aggression in Ukraine, reaffirming their unwavering support for Kyiv. They noted that China's rise is now a major geopolitical threat of the 21st century, presenting significant challenges in the intelligence domain. To counter this, they are reorganizing their agencies to enhance their response to Beijing's formidable threats.

Burns stated that the CIA's budget for China-related activities has tripled over the past three years, accounting for 20% of their budget. Both leaders also committed to intensifying efforts to combat Russian intelligence operations in Europe and to thwart Russian attempts to use technology to spread misinformation and undermine alliances.

They further indicated that Ukraine has a chance to turn the tide of the war and urged Western nations to continue their support. Burns also discussed the Middle East situation, emphasizing that the US is actively working to broker a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, with only 10% of the terms remaining to be agreed upon. This final part is the most challenging, requiring both sides to make difficult choices and necessary compromises to end the Gaza conflict.