Here’s a hypothetical: Let’s say Russia launches a tactical nuclear warhead (a “mini nuke”) at a Polish military base. Scenario A is that it’s intercepted by a Patriot missile and doesn’t find its target. Scenario B is that it does detonate and wipes out a Polish military facility and a small amount of the surrounding area. Civilian casualties are minimal.

How should NATO respond to such aggression in each scenario? Launch an equivalent nuclear payload at a military target in Russia? Launch a massive non-nuclear strike at military targets in Russia? Sink Russia’s only aircraft carrier? Blow up the Kremlin with a non-nuclear weapon? No-fly-zone over Ukraine? More sanctions? Blockade Russia? Something else?

The question presumes the goal is to avoid nuclear armageddon, and WW3, while maintaining a credible deterrence from further nuclear escalation from Russia.

Topics: war, international relations, strategy, nuclear, armageddon