1-1. From the time of Peter the Great in the 17th and early 18th centuries to the present day, Russia has sought what it perceives is its rightful place as a world power. This drive is a result of Russia's geopolitical insecurity and a strategic culture and worldview influenced by the size of its territory, length of its borders, and a perception of military encirclement. As a major European power starting in the 18th century and for nearly three hundred years afterward, Russia was a dominant regional and global power. In 1991, with the collapse of the Soviet Union, Russia experienced a significant setback and has struggled with finding its new role in the international community.
1-2. Russia's policy statements, including the 2021 National Security Strategy, provide a glimpse into Russian leader's vision for its role. While the Security Strategy is like the one announced in 2015, the tenor of the revised document is stronger, revealing Russia's view of deteriorating relations with the West. For the foreseeable future, this position sets the tone for all Russian national actions and for any interaction with the United States, NATO, and the West.
1-3. Russia's relations with the United States are defined by a perpetual state of competition and selfinterest. While there are instances of positive interaction on discrete programs, the relations between Russia and the United States remain predominantly competitive. Today's rivalry can be traced back as far as the 1918–1920 Allied invasion of Russia at Archangel and Vladivostok, which included U.S. troops, during the Russian Revolution. Even after the U.S. alliance with the Soviet Union during the Second World War, both countries quickly returned to a competitive stance during the Cold War. Actions during the Cold War up to the present set an enduring tone of competition and confrontation between Russia and the United States.
1-4. During the Cold War, the rivalry between the United States and Soviet Union escalated and ultimately resulted in massive efforts to undermine and compete with one another. The eventual breakup of the Soviet Union and a turn toward democracy did not resolve this, but rather it paved the way for a new phase of competition and conflict that provides fodder for negative Russian narratives about the United States' role on the international stage. Today, substantial sectors of the Russian population and political structure consider the United States to be the primary cause of the dissolution of the Soviet Union. This inherent distrust of the United States and Russia's expanding rivalry with other European countries have exacerbated Russia's distrust of the U.S.-led liberal world order that embraces collective security, economic openness, and social progress.
1-5. Russia's 2021 National Security Strategy holds that Russia's policy pursuits are being restrained by a Western containment strategy via diplomatic, informational, military, and economic methods meant to continue Western dominance. The Security Strategy is complemented by its Information Security Doctrine, and a military doctrine that tasks its armed forces and other security services with defeating aggression against Russia and creating conditions favorable to Russian interests.
Note. The Russian National Security Strategy and other military publications serve as the basis for use of the term “aggressor” throughout this ATP. While Russia does use other terms such as “enemy” or “threat,” its underlying security vision sees aggressors using direct and indirect methods to undermine and destroy the nation.