The relationship between Russia and the West deteriorated from a moment of potential reconciliation (1997 NATO-Russia Founding Act) to the current state of mutual suspicion and containment, driven by failed attempts to integrate Russia and Putin's strategic choice to centralize state power, leading to a return of NATO's primary mission being Russian deterrence.

Russia fears the United States as its primary security threat and is convinced that the US is committed to overthrowing the Russian government, which drives Russian foreign policy decisions and justifies Russian strategic actions against Western interests.