A small nuke is meant for a specific war target covering approximately one mile (1.6 km) around the epicenter. That's the sword of Democles Putin wants to hang over Ukraine's head. But is it an empty threat from Moscow, after all? Putin likes to keep everyone guessing, of course.

Factoring in costs and benefits, Putin would not resort to nukes for offense--- precisely because of the following probable geopolitical chain reactions:

Poland would become a nuclear-armed NATO vanguard practically overnight if Ukraine gets nuked, irrespective of the scale of the fallout. Soon enough, Europe would be nuclearized continent-wide. In Asia Japan and South Korea wouldn't be far behind in this regard. When it comes to national defense, nuclear weaponry is the ultimate deterrent in terms of MAD (Mutually Assured Destruction).

Also, overnight, all things Russia would be sanctioned worldwide, thanks to American power. Not even a sitting U.S. president named Trump would call Putin his friend anymore.

Meanwhile, could the PRC, North Korea and/or Iran fish in troubled waters? I doubt they could. More likely, they would all be further isolated as Putin's well-known accomplices.

On the other hand, America can no longer afford to be inward-looking. Be prepared for the worst out there.

Author: renqiulan