The two spymasters in an opinion piece for the Financial Times said, a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war “could end the suffering and appalling loss of life of Palestinian civilians and bring home the hostages after 11 months of hellish confinement.”
World order is ‘under threat’
The two intelligence leaders warned that the international world order is “under threat in a way we haven’t seen since the Cold War.” They also reiterated that the US and UK stand united in “resisting an assertive Russia and Putin’s war of aggression in Ukraine.”
The CIA and MI6 chiefs outlined ongoing efforts to “disrupt the reckless campaign of sabotage” across Europe by Russia, promote de-escalation in the Israel-Gaza conflict, and counterterrorism to thwart the resurgent Islamic State (IS).They highlighted that addressing these threats is central to the special relationship between the UK and the US.
The war in Ukraine, now in its third year following Russia’s invasion in February 2022, is one of the “unprecedented array of threats” faced by both countries. Burns, who has played a crucial role in these efforts, traveled to Egypt in August for high-level negotiations aimed at securing a ceasefire and a potential hostage deal, though no agreement has been reached. While US President Joe Biden has indicated that a resolution is close, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has dismissed reports of significant progress.
Despite their strong alliance with Israel, the US and UK have diverged on some issues, with London suspending certain arms exports to Israel due to concerns over international law violations.
The intelligence chiefs also addressed the global threats posed by Russia, China, and international terrorism. They noted Russia’s “reckless campaign of sabotage” and the use of disinformation to undermine Western unity, and emphasized the role of intelligence in anticipating global threats, such as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Burns and Moore highlighted a new era of transparency in their field, referencing the declassified intelligence about Russia’s plans to invade Ukraine before the attack in February 2022. “We saw it coming, and were able to warn the international community so we could all rally to Ukraine’s defense,” they said.
Praising Ukraine’s resilience, Burns and Moore stressed the importance of continued support as the conflict, now over two years old, shows no signs of ending soon. They emphasized that staying the course is “more vital than ever” and affirmed that Russian President Vladimir Putin “will not succeed.”
The conflict has demonstrated how technology can change the course of war and underscored the need to “adapt, experiment and innovate.” The intelligence leaders also reiterated their commitment to disrupting Russia’s campaign of sabotage and combating its use of technology to spread disinformation.
Both agencies see the rise of China as the century’s primary intelligence and geopolitical challenge, and have reorganised their services “to reflect that priority,” according to their op-ed. They concluded that a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war “could end the suffering and appalling loss of life of Palestinian civilians and bring home the hostages after 11 months of hellish confinement.”