**US Must Change Its Approach to Russia**
The Cuban Missile Crisis showed that strong boundaries can stop Soviet expansion. But today, the US is taking a different approach called “escalation management”. This means being careful not to provoke Russia in Ukraine.
However, this approach has had the opposite effect. While Western leaders were hesitant to provide weapons to Ukraine, Russia took advantage of the situation and formed new military partnerships. They also learned that threatening nuclear war can make Western leaders unsure about what to do.
**A Clear Lesson from History**
During the Cuban Missile Crisis, the US showed strength and set clear boundaries. This stopped Soviet expansion. Now, this lesson is more important than ever. There are several factors making it difficult for the West to take action:
* A new administration in the US
* Uncertainty about who will be elected in Germany
* Russia’s increased military production
**Three Steps to Change**
To correct this situation, three things need to happen:
1. The West must provide clear security guarantees to NATO.
2. Promised systems should be delivered quickly without new conditions.
3. Clear consequences for further Russian escalation must be made public.
**The Choice is Clear**
The US can either return to a proven strategy of containment now or face a more expensive and dangerous conflict later.