OREANDA-NEWS. Russia opposes the United States in many “gray areas”, and one of the government’s greatest weaknesses in dealing with Moscow is the lack of a unified coordinated approach on the part of the state, writes Jason Verchan, an analyst of the European Command of the US Armed Forces, in the “Strategic Intentions of Russia” white paper prepared for the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the United States. The document drew the attention of the American media. Russia can threaten opponents militarily, and can use such methods as propaganda and disinformation, as well as force other countries to the necessary behavior, influencing through culture, religion and energy, Verchan explains.

Moscow is doing well in the “gray zone” partly due to the vertical decision-making system: the control system does not provide for open discussion about foreign and domestic policy, Verchan writes. In his opinion, federalism and the democratic nature of the US political system prevent them from pursuing a unified strategy to counter Russia. An expert in this regard advises the US authorities to choose one body that will work out and coordinate the country's activities in the “gray zone”, and suggests the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs of the State Department as such.

The United States should also oppose the creation of a union of Russia and China, sowing distrust between them, the expert said, for example, using the fear that growing economic power will allow Beijing to press Moscow into its traditional spheres of influence. In addition, Washington should fight the dependence of individual European countries on Russian oil and gas.

In the preface to the report, Jeffrey Cherevko, Deputy Director of the Joint Committee on Global Operations, notes that Russia is trying to deter and force the United States and its allies to take advantage of its actions, using both military and non-military means.