The document also touches upon China and North Korea, possible terrorist attacks in the US and its allies and the rise of violence and instability in the Middle East.
However, Russia did not make the list, which has been repeatedly labelled as a threat by Barack Obama’s administration.
"People there now would be pretty concerned to see Russia not on the list," said Evelyn Farkas, a former senior Pentagon official who worked on Russia policy.
The Pentagon knows that US defense spending depends on a standoff between Moscow and Washington. Labelling Russia as a threat, Defense Secretary Ashton Carter has repeatedly been able to increase the Pentagon’s budget.
As for now, the recently leaked memo proves that US foreign policy is likely to see dramatic changes in the near future.
Such a change in priorities should be regarded from two different angles, according to Alexei Mukhin, director of the Center of Political Information.
"On the one hand, the entire system of priorities is going to change. And this is not bad. On the other hand, Russia gets used to be viewed as a 'threat.' Such an approach generated additional geopolitical benefits," Mukhin told Radio Sputnik.
According to the analyst, Donald Trump’s administration will embrace a more balanced approach towards Russia.
"It seems that Trump has good analysts. However, in the beginning such a rational and pragmatic approach could complicate relations between Moscow and Washington. We’ll have to renegotiate on a number of issues, especially on the situation in the Middle East. We’ll have to work out new strategies," he concluded.
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