Threat Level

More Americans see Russia as a threat to United States security

by Marisa Petrich

U.S. President George W. Bush meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Bush once described Putin as a "soul mate," but one study suggests greater American weariness of Russia.

The number of Americans to identify Russia as the “greatest danger” to the United States has risen to 14 percent, the Pew Research Center for the People and Press reported on Sept. 24.

Not only is this number up 12 points since 2007, it is now at similar levels as it was at the end of the Cold War. In 1992, 13 percent of Americans saw Russia as the greatest threat to the country.

This puts Russia at number three on the list of perceived threats, behind Iran (27 percent) and China (16 percent). Iraq comes in fourth with 13 percent.

However, while 48 percent of Americans see Russia as a “serious problem” only 18 percent view it as an adversary. Furthermore, that number is dwarfed by the 72 percent who identified Islamic terrorist groups as a “major threat.

Back to Our Wars