A text of the Report-2009 has been put on the website of the director of US National Intelligence, signed by Dennis Blair, the head of the department, which contains recommendations to 16 US intelligence agencies. Recommendations are issued every four years.
Russia and China were among of only four countries that "have the ability to challenge US interests not only in traditional ways (as military force and espionage), but also in emerging ways (for example cyberthreats)".
Iran and North Korea remain main challenge to US interests in the world, the authors of the report state.
"Iran poses an array of challenges to US security objectives in the Middle East and beyond because of its nuclear and missile programmes, supports of terrorism, and provision of lethal aid to US adversaries", told in the document.
"North Korea continues to threaten peace and security in East Asia because of its sustained pursuit of nuclear and ballistic missile capabilities... its erratic behaviour", the ...