Russia as a 'Manageable Threat': The New U.S. Strategy

Russia remains a "constant yet manageable threat to NATO's eastern members," according to the new U.S. National Security Strategy.

The Pentagon has noted that Russia "has the world’s largest nuclear arsenal," but added that NATO allies outnumber Russia with "covert military capabilities." However, the document states that the conflict in Ukraine demonstrates that Russia still possesses significant military and industrial capacity.

The Pentagon has pledged to ensure the readiness of U.S. forces to defend against "Russian threats" to American territory and emphasized that it will continue to play a vital role within NATO, despite adjustments in the U.S. posture "on the European stage." In early December, the U.S. updated its National Security Strategy for the first time during Donald Trump's second term.

Moscow has considered the new U.S. National Security Strategy a positive development, as it does not label Russia as the United States' "adversary" unlike its predecessors. However, Trump himself has rejected the notion that the updated U.S. National Security Strategy is beneficial for Russia and stressed his desire to see a strong Europe.