Atlanticist view: CFR outlined the main threats to the U.S. in 2016

The Council on Foreign Relations, known as a powerful pro-Atlanticist think tank, published a report on possible threats to U.S. hegemony in 2016. The study divides these into three tiers depending on the level of danger.

Uncle Sam's biggest focus

The Middle East remains a zone with the highest level of threats. Besides a high-casualty attack on the U.S. homeland and a major cyber-attack on critical infrastructure, the biggest concerns are increased fighting between Kurdish groups and Turkish forces, aggravated by the Syrian Civil War; as well as a deterioration of the Israel-Palestine conflict; political instability in Libya and Egypt; and Iraq's disintegration as a result of ISIS activity and the Sunni-Shiite conflict. An issue related to these topics that appeared for the first time on this list is the possible political and social instability in Europe amid the immigration crisis.

Good ol' clash with continental powers

The list of medium-priority threats to America is composed mostly of Eurasian countries with an alternative agenda and stance on global policy. Escalation of the conflict in Ukraine, and a possible clash of one or several NATO members with Russia, is considered as an undesirable but nevertheless possible development.

Although China is on the list, experts don’t think that the situation with the country is going to be acute in the South China Sea, mainly because of sluggish economic growth.

As for Iran, Atlanticists now have shifted from the nuclear agenda to Tehran’s support for Shia groups and the Syrian government. This is now considered the main challenge in Iran’s foreign policy with regard to Washington’s position as the dominating power.

Possible threats

The third tier of threats includes possible controversies that haven’t been in reports before: political instability in Saudi Arabia and the Democratic Republic of Congo, as well as the possible growth of Islamist militancy in Russia, mainly in the North Caucasus. This also shows a type of increased activity on the part of Washington in regards to problems related to the Islamic world and the Middle East.

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Atlanticist view: CFR outlined the main threats to the U.S. in 2016