US, UK Stress Intelligence Partnership to Face Unprecedented Threats

MI6 chief Richard Moore and CIA director Bill Burns speaking at the FT weekend festival on Saturday. (Reuters)
MI6 chief Richard Moore and CIA director Bill Burns speaking at the FT weekend festival on Saturday. (Reuters)
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US, UK Stress Intelligence Partnership to Face Unprecedented Threats

MI6 chief Richard Moore and CIA director Bill Burns speaking at the FT weekend festival on Saturday. (Reuters)
MI6 chief Richard Moore and CIA director Bill Burns speaking at the FT weekend festival on Saturday. (Reuters)

Director of the US Central Intelligence Agency, Bill Burns and chief of the UK Secret Intelligence Service, Richard Moore highlighted on Saturday the importance of partnership between the two countries to face an unprecedented array of threats, with reference to Russia, China and Islamic groups.

Their comments came at the FT Weekend Festival, days before British Prime Minister Keir Starmer's visit to Washington, where he will meet with US President Joe Biden.

“Today, we cooperate in a contested international system where our two countries face an unprecedented array of threats,” they said.

It is the first time the two heads have appeared together at a public event.

Both Burns and Moore discussed the war in Ukraine. They said the CIA and MI6 stand together in resisting an assertive Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine.

“Staying the course is more vital than ever,” the two officials said.

Speaking on Ukraine’s surprise offensive into Russia’s Kursk border region, Moore expressed that Kyiv's surprise decision to seize territory in Russia's Kursk region was “a typically bold and brave move by Ukrainians to try to change the game.”

Moore then cautioned it was “too early” to say how long Kyiv’s forces would be able to control the Russian territory they had seized.

For his part, Burns said Kursk was “a significant tactical achievement” that had boosted Ukrainian morale.

But while he said it had exposed the Russian military's vulnerabilities, he did not see any evidence that Russian President Vladimir Putin's grip on power was weakening.

Moore and Burns said the two spy agencies will continue to work together to disrupt the reckless campaign of sabotage across Europe being waged by Russian intelligence.

For both the CIA and MI6, “the rise of China is the principal intelligence and geopolitical challenge of the 21st century, and we have reorganized our services to reflect that priority.”

The pair also explained how they were now using advanced AI and cloud technologies to harness the vast troves of data they collect.

The spy chiefs also said that partnership lies at the beating heart of the special relationship between their countries. “Two years ago, we celebrated 75 years of partnership; 75 years since the CIA was founded in 1947,” they said.

They also stressed that the CIA and MI6 stand together in resisting an assertive Russia and Putin’s war of aggression in Ukraine.

“We will continue to aid our brave, resolute Ukrainian intelligence partners,” they said.

Beyond Ukraine, Burns and Moore said they continue to work together to disrupt the “reckless” campaign of sabotage across Europe being waged by Russian intelligence, and “its cynical use of technology to spread lies and disinformation designed to drive wedges between them.”

Russia has denied those allegations.

Burns and Moore said their agencies have reorganized to confront a growing challenge from China, which they described as the principal intelligence and geopolitical concern of the 21st century.

They also emphasized their efforts to use intelligence to promote restraint and de-escalation in the Middle East, including working toward a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.

Burns is leading US negotiations to resolve the conflict and address humanitarian issues.

The White House said on Friday that US President Joe Biden will host British PM Starmer on September 13.

Starmer’s visit to the White House, his second since taking office in July, will also focus on the “special relationship” between London and Washington, Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement.

Biden and Starmer will discuss “continuing robust support to Ukraine in its defense against Russian aggression” and “securing a hostage release and ceasefire deal to end the war in Gaza,” said Jean-Pierre.

Biden and Starmer will also discuss attacks on shipping by Yemen’s Iranian-backed Houthi militias and, in a reference to countering Chinese influence, ensuring a “free and open” Asia-Pacific region.

The meeting is set against the backdrop of diverging policies between the US and the UK on the Israel-Hamas conflict.

Last week, the UK announced it would suspend around 30 permits of export of some arms to Israel because of the risk that they could be used in non-compliance with international humanitarian law.



Israeli Finance Minister Says Banks Should Not Obey EU Sanctions on Settlers

20 July 2022, Israel, Barkan: Right-wing settlers march to build a settlement in the West Bank near Barkan. (dpa)
20 July 2022, Israel, Barkan: Right-wing settlers march to build a settlement in the West Bank near Barkan. (dpa)
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Israeli Finance Minister Says Banks Should Not Obey EU Sanctions on Settlers

20 July 2022, Israel, Barkan: Right-wing settlers march to build a settlement in the West Bank near Barkan. (dpa)
20 July 2022, Israel, Barkan: Right-wing settlers march to build a settlement in the West Bank near Barkan. (dpa)

Israel's Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich on Thursday condemned the country's banks that have refused to provide services to Israeli settlers sanctioned by the European Union and warned they may have to pay compensation to them.

The EU last year imposed sanctions on five Israeli settlers for violence against Palestinians and Smotrich said there were reports of sanctions being considered against other settlers.

But in a letter to the banking supervisor, he said Israeli banks should not follow a "zero risk" policy since it leads to the abandonment of Israeli clients "under the guise of compliance with foreign sanctions."

In a statement quoting his letter to the regulator, Smotrich called on banks to use their legal, economic, and international strength to fight "unjust sanctions", Reuters reported.

"The banks’ enormous profits enable them to take measured risks on behalf of their clients — especially when it comes to a national moral injustice," Smotrich, who leads the far-right Religious Zionism party, said.

Should banks continue to comply with sanctions and harm clients, Smotrich said he intended to promote immediate legislation that would require banks to pay substantial compensation to affected customers.

He also intends to require the Bank of Israel itself to offer banking services to citizens targeted by sanctions.

Responding to the letter, the Bank of Israel said that while banks must comply with international sanctions to avoid an array of risks, a draft directive it published on Thursday aimed to ensure appropriate banking services were available for the affected customers.

"Circumventing foreign sanctions regimes through the Israeli banking system exposes banking corporations to multiple risks, including compliance risks, anti-money laundering and counter-terror financing risks, legal risks, and reputational risks," the central bank said.

But it said it has taken steps to comply with sanctions "without banks resorting to blanket refusals to serve such customers."

While the sanctions in question concern Israeli settlers, the EU is reviewing its broad pact governing its political and economic ties with Israel in the face of mounting international pressure on Israel amid complaints about the lack of humanitarian aid reaching Gaza in the wake of the war triggered by Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023 attack.