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Russian President Vladimir Putin PHOTO: Reuters
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Russian President Vladimir Putin has approved a revised version of the country’s National Security Strategy, the Associated Press reported.
The document, released today, envisions “symmetrical and asymmetrical measures” in response to “hostile actions” by other states that “threaten Russia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
Putin signed the decree yesterday.
The strategy outlines 44 pages of Russia’s national interests and priorities.
“The actions of some countries are aimed at provoking disintegration processes in the Commonwealth of Independent States in order to destroy Russia’s ties with its traditional allies,” the document said. “A number of countries call Russia a threat and even a military adversary,” BTA quoted him as saying.
The strategy emphasizes that Russia remains committed to using political and diplomatic means to resolve international and national conflicts. At the same time, it “considers it legitimate to take symmetrical and asymmetrical measures” to thwart and prevent “hostile actions” by other states that “threaten the sovereignty and territorial integrity” of the Russian Federation.
Russia’s relations with the United States and its allies are at their lowest point since the end of the Cold War. The reasons for this are the annexation of Crimea by Moscow in 2014 and the accusations of Russian interference in American elections, hacker attacks and other actions, the AP notes.
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