Washington DC – US President-elect Joe Biden on Monday announced the former career diplomat William Burns as his nominee for director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).

Burns has more than three decades of experience in the US foreign service and has served in multiple national security positions for Democratic and Republican administrations.

He was deputy secretary of state under former President Barack Obama.

Biden said that Burns shared his belief that intelligence "must be apolitical."

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"Ambassador Burns will bring the knowledge, judgement, and perspective we need to prevent and confront threats before they can reach our shores," the incoming Democratic president continued in a statement, which referenced cyberattacks emanating from Russia, challenges from China, and threats from terrorists.

If confirmed by the Senate, Burns would replace Gina Haspel, who was nominated by outgoing President Donald Trump to lead the CIA in 2018.