NEWSLINK: “U.S., Russia: A History of Containment” – Stratfor

“One of the United States’ greatest geopolitical imperatives is to prevent the rise of regional hegemons with the ability to challenge it. Russia’s historical dominance of Eurasia, the Soviet Union’s rise as a superpower after World War II and its resulting political, economic and military rivalry with the United States have long made Russia a target of Washington’s actions abroad. … Even after the demise of the Soviet Union, the United States continued to apply the idea of containment to the newly formed Russian Federation. Though Russia no longer posed a global challenge to the United States, it still wielded considerable demographic, economic and military resources. … along with its location …. As … Trump assumes office, Washington’s relationship with Moscow could change. During his campaign, Trump highlighted the need for greater cooperation …. But no matter who is in the White House, Washington’s imperative to contain regional hegemons will continue to be a mainstay of its foreign policy.”