Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Israeli media: A new security incident at an additional location in the Al-Zaytoun neighborhood, southeast of Gaza City
Israeli media: Search for 4 missing soldiers in Al-Zaytoun neighborhood, southeast of Gaza City.
Israeli media platform: In the second incident, two injured people were transported from Gaza, and we are awaiting the authorities to notify the families to provide additional details shortly
Israeli media platform: 3 security incidents reported in Gaza
Israeli media platform: A serious incident in Gaza... A dead soldier was evacuated under fire... and an additional evacuation helicopter was dispatched
Israeli media outlet: Fierce battles ongoing between our forces and "militants" in the Gaza Strip
Israeli media platform: Confrontations ongoing across the Gaza Strip, heavy fighting reported in Gaza City and Khan Younis
Abu Obeida: War criminal Netanyahu and his Nazi ministers have deliberately set their minds on reducing the number of living enemy captives by half
Abu Obeidah: Our freedom fighters are in a state of alert, readiness, and high morale; ready to demonstrate unique exemplars of heroism and bravery, and they will teach the invaders harsh lessons
Abu Obeida: The enemy’s army will pay the price with the blood of its soldiers, and the chances of capturing more soldiers will increase, God willing

CIA director says US no longer 'big kid on the geopolitical block'

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 13 Apr 2023 20:53
  • 16 Shares
3 Min Read

William Burns, CIA Director, says the US can no longer guarantee its global position and has become challenged by the rise of both China and Russia.

  • x
  • Central Intelligence Agency Director William J. Burns testifies during a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing to examine worldwide threats on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, March 8, 2023. (AP)
    Central Intelligence Agency Director William J. Burns testifies during a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing to examine worldwide threats on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, March 8, 2023. (AP)

CIA Director William Burns stated that the US no longer has the ability to guarantee its role as the dominant global hegemon as the country has been witnessing critical juncture change “that comes along a couple of times a century."

The CIA chief, during an address at the Baker Institute earlier this week, explained that despite the fact that Washington “still has a better hand to play than any of our rivals,” it is “no longer the only big kid on the geopolitical block and our position at the head of the table isn’t guaranteed.” 

Moreover, Burns stressed that the growing relationship between Beijing and Moscow, which is set to become a “formidable challenge” for the CIA, refused to remain secondary global players. As such, the CIA chief highlighted the challenges and alleged that Beijing was “not content to only have a seat at the table; it wants to run the table,” while Russia, claimed Burns who served as the US ambassador to Moscow under George W. Bush, sought to “upend the table altogether.” 

Ukraine from the CIA perspective

While Burns claimed the war in Ukraine was a "brutish aggression" by Russia, the chief also admitted that the CIA had actively provided Kiev with “good intelligence” that has “helped the Ukrainians." Additionally, the CIA chief added that the US intelligence offered to Kiev had allegedly cemented “a strong coalition in support of Ukraine.”  

Significantly, and following the leak of documents whose authenticity Russia doubted, Burns announced that Kiev's spring counteroffesive, which has been anticipated by many, would include “strong material and intelligence support from the US and our allies.”

Related News

Russia warns 'Israel' E1 plan threatens Palestinian statehood

Putin-Zelensky summit won’t happen: Germany's Merz

Burns also contended that Russian President Vladimir Putin was "not serious about negotiations” insisting that only the battlefield was “likely to shape prospects for diplomacy.”

Earlier on April 8, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken ruled out negotiations between Russia and Ukraine.

In a statement made to the German outlet Funke Mediengruppe, Blinken said the two can only come to the negotiation table if Moscow showed readiness for "constructive negotiations". This meant that Moscow had to join the negotiations table aiming to reach a "just and lasting peace."

Otherwise, and despite the fact that the idea of a ceasefire may be "tempting", it remained unlikely, since the "lasting peace" meant that Ukraine would restore the entirety of its territorial integrity. A ceasefire, however, countered that aim, as it meant the "ratification" of Moscow's authority over the territories that joined Russia following the referendums conducted in 2022, Blinken explained.

China as a 'long-term priority'

When it came to China, the CIA chief stated that Beijing remained the CIA’s “biggest long-term priority” revealing that the CIA has so far doubled resources focusing on China. That meant, according to Burns, that the agency had hired and trained Mandarin speakers and stepped up efforts to compete with China on the global stage.

The CIA chief noted that “managing a crucial and increasingly adversarial relationship with China will be the most significant test for American policy makers for decades to come.” 

Burns also explained that the risk of a US-China conflict regarding Taiwan will continue in an upward trend.

Read more: Pentagon leak: Kirby confirms US Special Forces presence in Ukraine

  • Russia
  • US
  • China
  • Ukraine
  • CIA
  • William Burns

Most Read

Almost instantly after the Helsinki Accords were signed, organisations sprouted to document purported violations, whose findings were fed to overseas embassies for international amplification. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Zeinab el-Hajj)

How ‘Human Rights’ became a Western weapon

  • Opinion
  • 23 Aug 2025
Tom Barrack's imperial tantrum in Beirut: When entitlement speaks (Photo by Mahdi Rtail)

Tom Barrack's imperial tantrum in Beirut: When entitlement speaks

  • Politics
  • 26 Aug 2025
Although it does seem likely they will launch some kind of operation in northern Gaza, one which will accelerate its mass murder of civilians, but will fail to achieve its stated objectives. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)

Here is why the Israeli occupation of Gaza won’t work

  • Opinion
  • 26 Aug 2025
Launch of a ballistic missile from Yemen toward the occupied Palestinian territories. (YAF military media)

Yemeni Forces announce firing hypersonic missile at Al-Lydd Airport

  • Politics
  • 22 Aug 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Global Sumud flotilla sets sail to break blockade on Gaza
Palestine

Global Sumud flotilla, largest yet, to set sail bound for Gaza

A Palestinian flag flies next to a Slovenian, center, and a European Union flag, right, at the government building in Ljubljana, Slovenia, Thursday, May 30, 2024 (AP)
Politics

Slovenia mulls entry ban for Israeli PM Netanyahu

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan speaks during a joint news conference following a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, May 27, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Turkey severs 'Israel' trade ties, closes airspace to Israeli aircraft

Maduro vows Venezuela is 'impenetrable' as US warships mear Caribbean
Latin America

Maduro vows Venezuela is 'impenetrable' as US warships near Caribbean

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS