Heritage Foundation: Russia Greater Threat Than Islamic State

The Heritage Foundation has issued a new report that claims Russia, not the Islamic State, is the biggest threat to the United States.

The Washington-based conservative think-tank's "2017 Index of U.S. Military Strength" concludes Russia is the only "formidable" threat facing the America, in terms of capability, the Washington Examiner reports.

The report flies in the face of the views of Donald Trump who spoke to Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday, with both agreeing the two nations should improve relations and possibly work together in war-torn Syria.

The report also says that Iran has increased from an "aspirational" threat to a "gathering" threat. In addition, Middle East terrorism has been boosted from an "aspirational" threat to "capable" one.

The report also concludes that U.S. military readiness has declined because of tight budgets and shrinking numbers of personnel, and that all branches are affected.

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