Expert: CIA Director's Moscow Visit Was Not a Secret Meeting
Former Estonian Internal Security Service (KAPO) chief Arnold Sinisalu says the surprise visit of CIA Director John Ratcliffe to Moscow should not be seen as a secret US-Russia deal, since several different topics could be behind the talks.
On Tuesday, August 25, it became known that CIA Director John Ratcliffe had unexpectedly flown to Moscow and held talks with Russian officials, though the subject of the discussions remains unknown. The last time a US intelligence chief visited Moscow was a few months before Russia's invasion of Ukraine, when the visit aimed to signal that Washington was aware of Russia's intentions.
Speaking on Vikerraadio's "Uudis+" program, Arnold Sinisalu, a visiting professor at the University of Tartu's Johan Skytte Institute, said contacts between the two countries' intelligence services are routine and not necessarily tied to the war in Ukraine. In his view, the military conflict between Iran and the US currently deserves higher priority in international relations, partly because it is also linked to US domestic politics.
Sinisalu noted that if Washington had wanted to keep the visit fully secret, it could have done so, for instance by switching planes several times. Since no serious effort was made to hide the trip from the public, he believes the situation should be treated calmly. He also sees no grounds to fear secret arrangements between the two countries, given the low level of trust between them.
Possible explanations
Attention has also focused on the large aircraft used for the visit, since FBI and CIA chiefs typically travel on smaller planes — suggesting either something special aboard or security considerations. Sinisalu considers a prisoner exchange the most logical explanation, though he noted such exchanges are usually completed faster and sometimes even broadcast live. He suggested the CIA chief's presence could relate to a related last-minute issue, such as negotiations over a specific individual requiring the highest-level decision.
According to Sinisalu, the more relevant question is how broad a range of topics the two powers discussed, possibly including efforts to start Ukraine-Russia talks or address the situation around Iran. He also addressed speculation about a possible Russian operation against the Baltic states or NATO, stressing that Russia currently lacks the strength for a full-scale conventional attack, as this would let Ukraine launch a counteroffensive.
The Wall Street Journal reported that Ratcliffe may also have met Vladimir Putin to deliver a warning, citing US intelligence suggesting Russia is preparing for possible mobilization and planning to test NATO's resolve. Sinisalu was skeptical, noting Putin rarely meets officials of that rank personally. He described talk of testing NATO as a form of psychological pressure meant to sustain anxiety in Europe, while stressing that NATO's borders are closely monitored.
