Kremlin: Trump's national security strategy has ‘imperial flare'

The Kremlin says it disagrees with the US assessment of Russia as a threat to its national security.

Russian presidential spokesperson Dmitry Peskov characterized the new US National Security Strategy (NSS), revealed by President Donald Trump on Monday, as having an "imperial flare."

The new security blueprint, said to reflect the President Trump's view on global affairs, describes China and Russia as rival "revisionist powers" that challenge the United States’ influence on the global arena and pose a possible threat to its interests abroad.

The document also accuses Moscow of trying to change the status quo in Eastern Europe, Georgia and Ukraine.

Mr. Peskov said it indicates Washington is reluctant to drop the idea of a unipolar world, dominated by American interests and influence.

At the same time he outlined some positive aspects contained in the new US security strategy. One of them, according to Mr. Peskov, is an indication that Washington would be ready to cooperate with Russia on issues meeting US interests.

The new US security plan came a day after the Kremlin praised "exemplary cooperation" with the US on the fight against terrorism.

It was revealed recently that the CIA helped thwart a terror attack in Saint Petersburg, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s hometown, handing over intelligence that allowed Russia to detain the perpetrators.

In a sign of gratitude, Russia’s President called his US counterpart to personally thank him and the US intelligence community for their assistance in averting a massive terror attack.

However, in its new security strategy, the US labels Russia as a "competitor" and accuses the country of using "subversive measures" to undermine America's credibility on the global stage and weaken European governments.

The new national security strategy appears to indicate that Moscow and Washington have not managed to rebuild trust after their relations hit an historic low following the expulsion of Russian diplomats in the US for what Washington said was “espionage” and a continuing downward spiral over allegations of Russia's meddling with the US electoral system – allegations that the Kremlin has consistently denied.

The ongoing US Justice Department investigation lead by special counsel Robert Mueller is looking into whether Trump's campaign and his associates colluded with Moscow to influence the outcome of last year's US presidential elections.

(CGTN)