CIA Director William Burns said on Tuesday that the operation carried out by the Hamas movement on October 7, and the war that followed, was a “painful” reminder to the United States of the complexities of the options that the Middle East continues to present. on her.

In a long article published in Foreign Affairs magazine, issued by the American Council on Foreign Affairs, Burns reviewed the challenges facing the United States at the present time, and the history of dealing with them security-wise and diplomatically.

Speaking about the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip, the CIA director explained that during his work in the Middle East for four decades, he had never witnessed a complex and intertwined situation similar to what is happening now, adding that “Israel will end its ground operation in Gaza and meet the needs of Palestinian civilians.” "Those who are suffering, preventing the conflict from expanding to other fronts in the region, freeing Israeli detainees from the Gaza Strip, and discussions about the next day of the war, represent very difficult problems."

Burns stressed that reviving hope for a lasting peace that guarantees “the security of Israel and the establishment of a Palestinian state,” and benefiting from historical opportunities for normalization with Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries, are all issues that are difficult to imagine amid this complex situation.

In an attempt to develop a preliminary vision about ways to deal with this “complex crisis,” the director of the US Intelligence Agency stressed that “the key to the solution” is through dealing with Iran and searching for mechanisms to deal with its nuclear weapons.

Burns: The United States is no longer the only superpower in the world

In his article, Burns devoted a large section to talking about Russia and China, believing that the United States no longer represents the only superpower in the world, as before, saying that this represents “a horrific geopolitical challenge in a world of intense strategic competition,” adding that this currently places Washington in a situation similar to what was happening in the Cold War, or after the events of September 11.

In an attempt to explain this crisis facing the United States, Burns explained that the countries of the Global South no longer depend on unilateral relations with the United States or China, and see in this pattern “little benefit and many risks,” and that is why they are working to “adopt open geopolitical relations with everyone.” 

Regarding the work of his agency, the CIA director stressed that in a world in which China and Russia focus on working “within small circles of advisors,” insight into leaders’ intentions has become more important and more difficult than ever before.

He expressed his belief that "this year is likely to be the most difficult on the battlefield in Ukraine, and a test of its and its allies' endurance."

In a complex situation like this, Burns says there are “major challenges facing the CIA and the entire intelligence profession, especially with major technological shifts as well.”

Source: Alaraby Aljadeed