How to Define the Russian Perception of U.S. Foreign Policy During the Cold War Era

This article articulates the prevailing Russian perception of US foreign policy during the Cold War era.

Instructions

Difficulty: Challenging

1. Controlling the flow of battle is essential to being victorious in war. Russia invested maximum time and energy in the endeavor of mapping out United States strategical policy in regards to war against Russia. Russia made numerous assessments regarding the probable strategy of the United States of America:
   1. Russia believed that America planned to cripple Russia with a first strike and America mention of a second strike was a ruse. Russia believed this even though there was evidence that America was constantly trying to articulate that America could survive a nuclear attack.
   
   *Note- While it is debatable, Russia was probably right about America trying to cripple Russia with a first strike, as it would be sound strategy to make the first blow lethal and decisive. If given a credible reason America could be very successful in this type of nuclear strike depending on the target. This does not mean that America was lying about preparing for a second strike or strategically planning to survive a nuclear attack. It is essential that strategist formulate, upgrade and maintain multiple strategic military options to ensure successful defense of their nation. This is the art of war on the highest level, as it guarantees the survivability of your country.
2. 2. Russia believed that America planned to use its flexible response strategy to launch a nuclear war against Russia and its allies.
   
   *Note- Russia believed that America planned to escalate smaller wars into global nuclear war. Russia had found a key point, as they could be defeated by synchronized small wars that could be merged into a global nuclear attack that would neutralize the loss of surprise by America by the implementation of this type of attack. Russia was fully aware that this thinking held the key to success. This strategy was the predecessor to the low intensity conflict strategy now employed by American Special Forces. It would have been extremely lethal if properly implemented. This strategy would be a perfect primary or secondary strategy if a nuclear war with the Soviet Union was unavoidable and necessary to ensure the security of the United States of America and its global interest.
3. 3. Russia believed that nuclear superiority was neutralized by the fact that the Soviet Union could guarantee a lethal nuclear counter-attack. By articulating this belief, Russia was unwittingly advertising its weakness in the race for nuclear superiority. Russia has long been known as a nation that uses overwhelming force based on numerical strength in troops and weaponry. This also signified that Russia was not willing to engage in war if they could not immediately overpower and blitz its enemies. This shows that the Soviet Union had little faith in the superiority of its war strategy and the training of its troops in an evenly matched war with the United States of America.
   
   The Cold War era was an extremely dangerous time period. Russia and the United States of America engaged in a high stakes race for global superiority. Russia made assessments about American strategical nuclear policy that still is misunderstood to this day. By studying the Russian view of American strategy in regards to U.S. foreign policy, students will see that military analysis and projections are worthy of constant training and study, as it holds the key to maintaining the security and stability of the United States of America.