28 – Germany’s Nuclear Fear: Deterrence, Escalation, Nuclear and Other Threats

In this episode, Ben and Aaron talk to nuclear experts William Alberque and Fabian Hoffmann, as well as to Canada’s former Ambassador to NATO Kerry Buck, about how Russian nuclear sabre-rattling plays into German support for Ukraine, how western leadership on discussing nuclear issues with the public needs to improve, and how to deter Putin’s nuclear brinkmanship.

We explain what people in allied states, including Germany, need to know about nuclear weapons and deterrence and how we can drive the debate on these issues beyond debilitating and dangerous fear. We clearly outline the threats we face – and how we can handle them.

Guests:

• Kerry Buck, Former Canadian Ambassador to NATO, Senior Fellow, University of Ottawa (@kerry_buck)
• William Alberque, Former Director of Strategy, Technology & Arms Control, International Institute for Strategic Studies (@walberque)
• Fabian Hoffmann, Doctoral Research Fellow, Oslo Nuclear Project (@FRHoffmann1)

Resources:

• Olaf Scholz cites risk of nuclear war in refusal to send tanks to Ukraine, Laurenz Gehrke, Politico
• Zelenskyy blasts Scholz’s reason for not sending German Taurus missiles, Paul Ronzheimer, Politico
• Russian Military Thought and Doctrine Related to Non-strategic Nuclear Weapons: Change and Continuity, William Alberque, IISS
• An Unprepared West Contemplates Threats of Russia’s Nonstrategic Nukes, William Alberque, Real Clear Defense
• NATO: Thinking Strategically in a New Nuclear Age, William Alberque
• As NATO alliance marks 75 years, Russia and Donald Trump again threaten its future, Canadian Press featuring input from Kerry Buck
• Why War With Russia Could Be Closer Than You Think, Twitter Thread by Fabian Hoffmann
• Strategic Stability and the Ukraine War – Implications of Conventional Missile Technologies, Fabian Hoffmann, CNA Corporation
• Europe’s Missile Conundrum, Fabian Hoffmann, War on the Rocks

This podcast is an original production of the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP). It was created as part of DGAP's Action Group Zeitenwende.

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