Biden Selects Former Deputy Secretary of State William Burns as CIA Director

William Burns, Former Deputy Secretary of State (Photo by Yonhap News)

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Jiwon] On the 11th (local time), CNN reported that President-elect Joe Biden plans to nominate William Burns, a former Deputy Secretary of State and career diplomat (64), as the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).

In a statement, Biden said, "If he becomes the new CIA Director, Americans will be able to sleep soundly."

He added, "Burns is an exemplary diplomat with decades of experience on the world stage who will keep our people and country safe," and praised him as "someone who shares my deep belief that intelligence agencies must be nonpartisan experts."

Burns has worked at the U.S. Department of State since 1982, with over 30 years of experience in diplomacy. He served as Deputy Secretary of State from 2011 to 2014 during the Obama administration. Currently, Burns is the president of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, a major think tank in Washington, and is known as a Russia expert.

CNN quoted a source familiar with Burns saying, "Biden’s nomination of Burns reflects his long diplomatic career and his high regard for Burns’ ability to restore trust in intelligence agencies in the 'post-Trump era.'"

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