Perturbative-nonperturbative interference in the static QCD interaction at small distances

Short distance static quark--antiquark interaction is studied systematically using the background perturbation theory with nonperturbative background described by field correlators. A universal linear term $\frac{6N_c\alpha_s\sigma r}{2\pi}$ is observed at small distance $r$ due to the interference between perturbative and nonperturbative contributions. Possible modifications of this term due to additional subleading terms are discussed and implications for systematic corrections to OPE are formulated.