FBI chief plans Russia visit this fall
Photo: FBI chief Kash Patel (Getty Images)
FBI chief Kash Patel is planning to visit Russia this fall. If the trip goes ahead, it would mark the first visit to the country by a sitting FBI chief in more than a decade, according to Politico.
According to two people familiar with the planning, Patel is expected to visit Moscow and St. Petersburg on October 14-15. However, Politico noted that the schedule could still change.
The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) is expected to host the visit. It remains unclear whether Patel will meet with Russian president Vladimir Putin or other senior Kremlin officials. The agenda of any potential talks has also not been disclosed.
Politico noted that such a visit would be highly unusual given the sharp deterioration in relations between Washington and Moscow following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Since 2022, senior officials from the US administration have rarely traveled to Russia, although the US Embassy in Moscow has remained operational.
Last FBI chief to visit Russia
The last FBI chief to travel to Russia was Robert Mueller, who visited the country in 2013, before Russia's occupation of Crimea. Mueller later led the investigation into Russia's alleged interference in the 2016 US presidential election and possible links between Moscow and Donald Trump's presidential campaign.
Patel has long been a vocal critic of that investigation, repeatedly referring to it as the "Russiagate hoax." He has also drawn attention for several unconventional overseas trips during his tenure as FBI director, some of which have come under congressional scrutiny.
The FBI declined to comment on reports of Patel's potential visit to Russia.
