CIA Director Burns Visits Sarajevo

US Central Intelligence Agency Director (CIA), William Burns, has arrived in Sarajevo on Tuesday for a visit, has confirmed to Radio Free Europe from nearby counties with the US Embassy in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH).

Burns is expected to hold several meetings in Sarajevo, among other things, with Bosnia and Herzegovina Intelligence and Security Agency Director Almir Judah, as well as with BiH Presidency members and BiH Foreign Minister.

The presidency and the ministry have not been able to share more data with the REL about the Burns visit.

A former diplomat and former ambassador to Russia, Burns is a central figure in American President Joe Biden's administration, as he is also a member of the White House presidential cabinet.

President Biden appointed him to the position of CIA director in January 2021.

Burns was sworn in as director of the CIA in March 2021, becoming the first career diplomat to serve as director. President Biden promoted him to the cabinet in June 2023.

It has served six presidents and administrations (both sides) over nearly four decades of public service in diplomacy and intelligence. He's only the second diplomat in history to become deputy secretary of state. He was also the US ambassador to Russia and Jordan.

After withdrawing from diplomatic service in late 2014, Burns served as president of Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

He graduated from LaSalle University for history, and has master and doctorate for international relations from Oxford University.

Former CIA director John Brenan was the last of this agency to visit Sarajevo after his visit in 2016. /rel