CIA chief made Moscow trip to warn Russia not to attack NATO: Reports
CIA Director John Ratcliffe visited Moscow to warn Russia against attacking NATO amid rising tensions over the Ukraine war. Reports also suggest the visit addressed concerns regarding Iran and the Strait of Hormuz.
Why it matters
The high-level diplomatic mission highlights the precarious state of international relations and the U.S. effort to prevent further escalation in multiple geopolitical theaters.
U.S. CIA Director John Ratcliffe made a surprise trip to Moscow this week to warn Russia against attacking NATO , according to multiple media reports, amid growing fears of further escalation in the Ukraine war .
Ratcliffe's first publicly known visit to the Russian capital as CIA chief came to light on Tuesday, when a U.S. Air Force jet was spotted arriving at a Moscow airport, and footage of a diplomatic motorcade moving through the city emerged on social media.
The purpose of Ratcliffe's trip to Moscow was first reported Wednesday by The Wall Street Journal , citing unnamed sources briefed on the trip.
Politico and CBS News separately reported the same motive, citing multiple people familiar with the matter. CBS News added that Ratcliffe also brought up Iran, warning of additional sanctions if the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz does not reopen to shipping traffic.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in