Speaker
Description
From the onset of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Russian leaders have repeatedly issued thinly-veiled threats of nuclear weapons use, challenging long-standing international norms against nuclear coercion. This paper examines the evolution of Russian nuclear rhetoric during the war and analyzes the international community’s response to these threats. Drawing on both official and unofficial statements, national strategies, policy documents, and military actions, this paper argues that while pressure from Russian allies and coordinated Western messaging have helped prevent nuclear escalation thus far, current U.S. policy is insufficient to reduce the risk of nuclear miscalculation as the conflict persists. Furthermore, this paper highlights the significant and often underexamined constraining influence exerted by China, India, and the Global South on Russia’s nuclear behavior. Building on this assessment, the paper proposes adjustments to U.S. policy aimed at reinforcing non-threat norms, including deeper engagement with Global South states, steps to reduce the salience of U.S. nuclear weapons in Europe, enhanced conventional deterrence within NATO, and a temporary pause in NATO expansion during active conflict. Together, these measures seek to strengthen international opposition to nuclear threats and reduce the likelihood of miscalculation in Ukraine.
| If you are submitting an Open Panel proposal, have you included all four abstracts in attachment? | Yes, I have included all required information (see below). |
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| Would you like to be considered for travel funding through the NetSec COST Action? | Yes |
| Are you a member of the NetSec Management Committee? | No |
| What discipline or branch of humanities or social sciences do you identify yourself with? | International Security |
| Which of the following best describes your stage of the career? | BA/MA Student |
| In which country is your home institution? | United Kingdom |
| What is your gender? | Female |