US calls russia "persistent but manageable" threat to NATO in its new defense strategy

Moscow will not cease to be a threat to NATO in the near future

This is stated in the Pentagon's National Defense Strategy document.

"Russia will remain a persistent but manageable threat to NATO’s eastern members for the
foreseeable future. Indeed, although Russia suffers from a variety of demographic and economic
difficulties, its ongoing war in Ukraine shows that it still retains deep reservoirs of military and
industrial power," the strategy says.

The US military department also noted that russia continues to pose a threat to the United States, as it maintains the world's largest nuclear arsenal (according to SIPRI, 5,580 warheads; the US has 5,328), which it continues to modernize and diversify.

In addition, Russia has "undersea, space, and cyber capabilities that it
could employ against the U.S. Homeland," the document says. Under these circumstances, the Pentagon emphasizes, Washington will "ensure that U.S. forces are prepared to defend against
Russian threats to the U.S. Homeland."

"Moscow is in no position to make a bid for European hegemony. European NATO dwarfs Russia
in economic scale, population, and, thus, latent military power. At the same time, although
Europe remains important, it has a smaller and decreasing share of global economic power," the defense strategy says.

At the same time, the Pentagon notes that russia, as a state, has demonstrated the determination to wage a protracted war in the near abroad.

The document also emphasizes that Europe should play a key role in supporting Ukraine in its defense against russian invasion.

"As President Trump has said, the war in Ukraine must end. As he has also
emphasized, however, this is Europe’s responsibility first and foremost. Securing and sustaining
peace will therefore require leadership and commitment from our NATO allies," the strategy says.

The last point is in line with the provisions adopted in the US National Security Strategy published in early December 2025. Among other things, this document pointed to the need to end the war in Ukraine and restore "strategic stability" in relations with russia, as well as to abandon further NATO expansion.