Escalation Signaling in Ukraine and Its Implications for the Strategic Russia-US Relationship

... for enhancing integrated deterrence against missile-related threats including hypersonic weapons and ‘lower-tier threats’ such as UAVs, through ‘tailored combinations of conventional … capabilities, together with the unique deterrent effect of nuclear weapons.’ Further, as noted by the U.S. Congressional Budget Office, the dual capability of hypersonic missiles may pose additional nuclear escalation risks by confusing adversaries about a state’s intentions. In the American understanding, escalation management can be achieved by raising the nuclear threshold of potential adversaries, including ...