MOSCOW: A new Russian appraisal has named the United States as one of the threats to Russia’s national security for the first time, a sign of how relations with the West have deteriorated in recent years.

The document, “About the Strategy of National Security of Russian Federation”, was signed by President Vladimir Putin on New Year’s Eve. It replaces a 2009 version, endorsed by then-president Dmitry Medvedev, the current prime minister, which mentioned neither the United States nor Nato.

It says Russia has managed to heighten its role in solving global problems and international conflicts.

That heightened role has caused a reaction by the West.

“The strengthening of Russia happens against the background of new threats to the national security, which has complex and interrelated nature,” the document says.

Conducting an independent policy, “both international and domestic”, has caused “counteraction from the USA and its allies, which are striving to retain their dominance in global affairs”.

That in turn is likely to lead to “political, economical, military and informational pressure” on Russia, the document says.

Relations between Russia and the West reached a low after Russian forces annexed the Crimean peninsula from Ukraine in March 2014, after protests in Ukraine forced its pro-Moscow president to flee to Russia.

Since then, the West has accused Russia of aiding insurgents in eastern Ukraine. Moscow denies actively assisting the rebels.

Published in Dawn, January 3rd, 2016