Experts of the Council on International Relations have attributed the military confrontation between Russia and NATO member countries and well as the crisis in North Korea to the most likely sources of international tension in 2017.

Preventive Priorities Survey included seven potential sources of conflict escalation, which could have serious consequences for US national interests, reports Voice of America. The intentional or non-intentional confrontation between Russia and NATO members is in the first place in the list, which might happen to aggressive behavior of Russia in the Eastern Europe.

The crisis in North Korea, because of testing nuclear weapons or missiles, internal political instability, military provocations, destructive cyberattack on the US infrastructure, and large scale terrorist attacks in the US or ally states, is among the most serious threats as well.

The increase in violence and instability in Afghanistan, violent clashes between Turkey and Kurdish armed groups, and the escalation of the civil war in Syria though a possible foreign intervention are assessed as moderate threats. 

"Our annual survey aims to highlight the most likely sources of instability and conflict around the world so that the government can prioritize its efforts appropriately,”  said the author of the study Paul Stares.