Americans view Russia as top US enemy: Poll

Americans consider Russia as the “greatest enemy” of the United States and view its military power as a growing threat to US interests, according to a new poll.

Russia is rated by 18 percent of Americans as the “greatest enemy” of the US, edging out North Korea, China and Iran, based on a Gallup survey taken February 8-11 and released Monday.

The poll also found that 70 percent of Americans have “unfavorable” views of Russia, while only 24 percent have a “favorable” opinion, the worst Gallup has measured in its 26-year trend.

“Russia's favorable rating has declined 10 points in each of the last two years. Just three years ago, Americans' views of Russia were more positive than negative,” the polling organization said.

Moreover, 49 percent of Americans view Russia's military power as a “critical threat” to the US and another 41 percent consider its military as an “important threat.”

Americans' perception of Russian President Vladimir Putin are even worse than their opinion of the country in general, as 72 percent have an unfavorable view of Putin and 13 percent have a favorable view.

Ties between Washington and Moscow deteriorated last year after pro-Western forces ousted Ukraine’s former President Viktor Yanukovych in February 2014.

The US and its allies accuse Moscow of sending troops into eastern Ukraine in support of the pro-Russian forces. Moscow, however, denies any involvement.

The United States and the European Union have imposed several rounds of sanctions on Russia, including visa bans and asset freezes.

Unfavorable ratings of Iran slip

As Russia has risen in the "enemy" rankings, Americans have expressed less hostile views toward China and Iran.

The percentage of Americans naming China as the greatest threat has declined eight points since 2014, to 12 percent, and the percentage mentioning Iran has dropped seven points to 9 percent.

While less than one in ten Americans view Iran as an enemy of the United States, their elected representatives in Congress, under the influence of the powerful Israel lobby, continue with their hostile policy against Iran amid the ongoing nuclear talks with Tehran.

Iran and the P5+1 states - the US, France, Britain, Russia, China and Germany - are in talks to narrow their differences and pave the way for a final, long-term nuclear accord.

The Republican-dominated Congress, however, is pushing a new round of sanctions on Iran.

AHT/HRJ

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