What is Strategic Rivalry? Why Should We Care?

U.S. strategy documents fail to properly distinguish between strategic competition and the more dangerous strategic rivalry. Strategic rivalry is a relationship where states aim to undermine each other's capacity to compete, often resulting in serial disputes and wars. The United States currently has three primary rivals—China, Russia, and Iran—which require a fundamentally different strategic approach than mere competitors. This approach should focus on containment or preclusion to reduce their ability to remain in the game and break the cycle of conflict.