NATO Has Crossed Russia's Red Line — Europe Is Approaching Disaster | John Mearsheimer

NATO Has Crossed Russia's Red Line — Europe Is Approaching Disaster | John Mearsheimer In this important geopolitical discussion, Professor John Mearsheimer examines the growing dangers of escalation between NATO and Russia and warns that the West may be ignoring some of the most important lessons of the Cold War. According to Mearsheimer, nuclear deterrence helped prevent direct conflict between major powers for decades because both sides understood and respected each other's red lines. Today, he argues, those restraints are gradually disappearing. Mearsheimer points to several developments in the Ukraine war that he believes would have been considered unthinkable during the Cold War era, including attacks inside Russian territory and strikes affecting elements of Russia’s strategic nuclear deterrent. He argues that these actions increase the risk of miscalculation and could push a nuclear power into a more dangerous position. The discussion comes at a time when global tensions are already rising. Concerns surrounding Donald Trump’s foreign policy, the possibility of a wider U.S.-Iran conflict, instability in the Middle East, and the strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz continue to dominate international news. As the world watches developments involving Iran, the United States, NATO, and Russia, questions about deterrence, escalation, and great-power rivalry are becoming increasingly urgent. Mearsheimer warns that great powers become most dangerous when they believe their survival or strategic position is under threat. He argues that policymakers must understand how their adversaries perceive risk and security, rather than assuming that escalation can continue indefinitely without consequences. This interview provides a detailed look at the Ukraine war, NATO strategy, nuclear deterrence, and the growing risks facing the international system as multiple geopolitical crises unfold simultaneously.