Russia Ukraine war, page-240538

"Nuclear blackmail" = nuclear deterrence.

The might of the US / NATO has at its base a huge nuclear arsenal primarily for nuclear deterrence (aka blackmail).

Listen to Lindsay Graham. He says it quite openly.

Imagine Mexico deciding to cause a strategic defeat of the US to break up the country and take back former Mexican territories such as Texas, California, New Mexico and sending a mass fleet of drones to attack Washington and cruise missiles to destroy the military bases around LA and say "Take it gringo and don't you dare use any of your nuclear blackmail s on us". Would the US say 'okay, we'll just exchange drone attacks so it is a level playing field"?

On top of that the US / NATO have other layers of deterrence (& punishment):

• Article 5 - mutual defence - could be termed a from of "military might" deterrence (blackmail)
• The overt threat of Sanctions is a form of deterrence (blackmail)
• The covert threat, most nations well understand, of colour revolution for those who do not obey is deterrence (blackmail)
• Weaponization of the reserve currency is a form of deterrence (blackmail)
• etc.

Both sides use the tools they have at their disposal to protect and advance their interests.

Some 'red lines" have big consequences.

Both sides make calculations of the extent of bluff.

A critical point is that there is no reason to assume that a party under a direct attack intended to defeat them is more likely to bluff and call uncle than ones used to being safe and comfy across a moat of water.