Publication

This report argues that Russian nuclear strategy allows for the early use of nuclear weapons in the event of a conflict with NATO. Further, this strategy’s goal is to force Western leaders to sue for peace or risk potentially catastrophic nuclear escalation. So how can the US and its NATO allies deter such ‘de-escalation’ strikes? The text’s author responds that NATO must convince Moscow that any nuclear strike will only result in unacceptable costs for Russia. In other words, the US must threaten that such strikes will be met with a tough and credible response, possibly including limited nuclear reprisals.