The global political stage just saw a major shake-up! The US administration has announced a significant revision to its national security strategy, and the headline? Russia is no longer officially being labeled a “direct threat.”
For years, especially following Russia’s actions in Crimea in 2014 and the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, US policy has consistently identified Moscow as a major security concern. However, this new policy document adopts a notably softer tone. Instead of outright confrontation, it encourages limited cooperation, particularly on issues of “strategic stability.”
Unsurprisingly, the Kremlin has welcomed this development. Russian spokesman Dmitry Peskov called it a “positive step,” acknowledging the removal of the “direct threat” wording. While Moscow plans to analyze the document closely before drawing broader conclusions, their initial reaction is clearly favorable.
This change reflects President Trump’s “flexible realism” foreign policy vision, prioritizing “what works for America.” The strategy aims for a swift resolution to the conflict in Ukraine and seeks to re-establish stability with Moscow, although it still acknowledges Russia’s actions in Ukraine as a central concern.
The move comes amidst a stalled US peace initiative for Ukraine and follows President Trump’s past positive remarks about Russian President Vladimir Putin. However, it’s a shift being watched carefully by European allies who rely on US support. They’ve voiced concerns that a softer US stance might complicate efforts to address Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine. This new direction signals a potential re-shaping of one of the world’s most critical geopolitical relationships.
