CIA chief, 'frustrated', visits KSA, assures intelligence coordination

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
6 Apr 2023 20:12

A US official reveals that CIA's Burns visited Saudi Arabia and met with intelligence counterparts and country leaders "on issues of shared interests."

William Burns, CIA Director, testifies during his Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, February 24, 2021. (Reuters)

CIA Director William Burns met with his counterparts and national leaders in Saudi Arabia to reaffirm intelligence collaboration, a US official said on Thursday.

"Director Burns traveled to Saudi Arabia, where he met with intelligence counterparts and country leaders on issues of shared interests," the US official said on condition of anonymity as quoted by Reuters.

"The director reinforced our commitment to intelligence cooperation, especially in areas of counterterrorism," the official added.

The US official did not specify the exact date of Burns' visit. Meanwhile, The Washington Post reported that the CIA chief visited Saudi Arabia earlier this week.

During his visit, CIA Director William Burns expressed frustration with the Saudis, according to people familiar with the matter, The Wall Street Journal reported. He told Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman that the US has felt blindsided by Riyadh’s rapprochement with Iran and Syria under the auspices of Washington’s global rivals.

Burns' visit was announced as the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia and Iran held talks in Beijing on Thursday, following an agreement to re-establish relations, mediated last month by China.

During the meeting, both officials exchanged views on issues related to bilateral matters, in addition to discussing steps to reopen embassies and pursue the official restoration of mutual relations.

The foreign ministers concluded the meeting by signing a joint statement that affirms that both countries will coordinate efforts to ensure the full implementation of the Beijing agreement.