Than the economic rival aspect.
Because that was exactly what the Democratic party narrative was in 2012, with similar views echoed in Europe.
>Romney's claim drew a memorable slam from Obama during a presidential debate: "The 1980s, they're now calling to ask for their foreign policy back," Obama said, seeking to paint Romney as out of touch on a key foreign policy issue.
>Albright, who similarly criticized Romney in 2012, said she'd "underestimated" Russia back then.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/abcnews.go.com/amp/Politics/yea...
>The EU and Russia are not only neighbours but strategic partners who cooperate on a wide range of bilateral and global challenges, based on joint commitments and shared interests.
https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/memo_1...
>In 2014, Russia’s annexation of Crimea and its military intervention in eastern Ukraine following Ukraine’s intention to sign an Association Agreement (AA) with the European Union caught the EU by surprise.
https://eu.boell.org/en/2017/07/03/eu-russia-relations-towar...