China and Russia are moving to “compete more intensely” with the United States, Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats told the Senate Intelligence Committee Tuesday.
“China and Russia are more aligned than at any point since the mid-1950s and the relationship is likely to strengthen in the coming year as some of their interests and threat perceptions converge,” Coats said, joined in a panel about global threats that included CIA Director Gina Haspel and FBI Director Christopher Wray.
Coats said the 2020 presidential election would provide an inviting target for interference by America’s adversaries, including Iran.
“U.S. adversaries and strategic competitors almost certainly will use online influence operations to try to weaken democratic institutions, undermine U.S. alliances and partnerships, and shape policy outcomes in the United States and elsewhere,” he added.
Coats said Tuesday Russia’s social media efforts “will continue to focus on aggravating social and racial tensions, undermining trust in authorities, and criticizing perceived anti-Russia politicians.”
As for China, “Beijing already controls the information environment inside China, and it is expanding its ability to shape information and discourse relating to China abroad,” Coats said.
Iran, Coats said, has already used social media “to target audiences in both the United States and allied nations with messages aligned with Iranian interests.” Iran, Coats added, “Will continue to use online influence operations to try to advance its interests.”
