The Kremlin expressed approval of the latest national security strategy unveiled by U.S. President Donald Trump, emphasizing its alignment with Russia’s own viewpoints. This marks a significant moment of praise from Moscow towards its former Cold War adversary.
Trump’s strategy, termed as “flexible realism,” advocated for a revival of the Monroe Doctrine from the 19th century, asserting U.S. influence over the Western Hemisphere. It also highlighted concerns about Europe facing “civilizational erasure,” emphasized the importance of resolving the conflict in Ukraine, and sought to restore strategic stability with Russia.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, in response to the new U.S. strategy, acknowledged the similarities between the two nations’ visions. Such explicit agreement between Moscow and Washington on global affairs is uncommon, although they had collaborated previously after the Soviet Union’s dissolution in 1991 and following the 9/11 attacks in 2001.
In contrast to the Cold War era rhetoric where the U.S. and Russia painted each other negatively, current relations have evolved. Moscow initially hoped for a partnership with the West post-Soviet collapse, but tensions escalated as the U.S. supported NATO expansion, leading to heightened discord during Vladimir Putin’s presidency.
Peskov welcomed the U.S. document’s pledge to address the perception of NATO’s perpetual expansion. However, he cautioned that Trump’s perspective differs from what he referred to as the U.S. “deep state,” a term used by Trump to describe a supposed entrenched network within the government.
Trump’s strategy identified the Indo-Pacific region as a crucial arena for economic and geopolitical competition, aiming to bolster military capabilities to prevent conflict with China over Taiwan. Following Western sanctions and European efforts to reduce reliance on Russian energy, Russia turned towards Asia, particularly China.
Notably, the strategy’s shift towards cooperation with Moscow on strategic stability issues instead of portraying Russia solely as a threat was viewed positively by Peskov. Critics of Trump have dismissed the notion of a “deep state,” labeling it a conspiracy theory to justify consolidating executive power.