← Back to context

Comment by Aloisius

7 days ago

Mutually assured destruction is still a thing.

These hypotheticals aren't helpful though.

Exactly. That's what protects the EU from this scenario.

  • It limits both sides involved in a conflict from using nuclear weapons first.

    As history has clearly shown, it doesn't do much to prevent conventional wars, especially involving third parties.

    I don't think anyone in power truly believes that France would actually use nuclear weapons to protect Italy during a conventional war against a nuclear power when France itself isn't in danger - let alone in a war Italy started. That's a no-win scenario for France.

    • Italy isn't a third party. They're both EU states. French nuclear doctrine is specifically the only one with nuclear first strikes as response to conventional threats.

      5 replies →