Abstract. Growing challenges and threats caused by political instability in the Greater Middle East are aggravated by meddling on the part of foreign powers and have had a destabilizing effect on regional and international security. The U.S. policy in the region has affected interests of a wide range of states, including Russia. Given Russia’s current engagement in the Syria conflict and its potential involvement in asymmetric conflicts in the future, analyzing the U.S. strategy towards Afghanistan, including its failed attempt to exit the Afghan conflict under President Barack Obama, is of high research and practical interest. The problems faced by the United States during its military operation in Afghanistan have revealed constraints and limitations of its capacity to manage armed conflicts. Washington’s excessive reliance on hard power and military tools in dealing with foreign policy problems prevents it from developing a more comprehensive view and approach to some of the most pressing regional conflicts. The author concludes that due to the current domestic crisis the United States is unable to work out and implement a comprehensive and consistent strategy towards any conflict, including the one in Afghanistan.