Russia’s war in Ukraine has significantly increased the likelihood of direct confrontation with NATO. Moscow is rattling the nuclear saber, NATO just added 830 miles of territory on the Russian border, and tensions are higher than ever. Russia now sees NATO as its enemy and vice versa. But does that mean war is inevitable?

On GZERO World, former US Ambassador to NATO Ivo Daalder warns that Russian military aggression poses a real and present danger, making the current situation arguably worse than its been since the end of the Cold War. The possibility of all-out military confrontation between the two nuclear-armed superpowers is the highest it has been since the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962, Daalder says in a conversation with Ian Bremmer.

Meanwhile, Russia still has some friends left. And non-aligned countries like India, Brazil, and South Africa remain on the fence because they have strong ties with both Washington and Moscow.

Daalder also highlights the potential impact of Turkey’s upcoming election on NATO. President Erdoğan has been blocking Sweden’s membership in the alliance, but the opposition candidate is campaigning on a platform of leaning closer to the West. If Erdogan loses reelection, it could mean Turkey becomes a stronger ally and partner at a crucial time for NATO.

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