The increasing risk of direct confrontation between Russia and NATO

Former US Ambassador to NATO, Ivo Daalder, joins Ian Bremmer on GZERO World to discuss Russia, NATO, and the countries caught in between. According to Daalder, Russia's invasion of Ukraine has brought the possibility of an armed conflict between two nuclear-armed powers higher than it has been since the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962. Relations have devolved to the point that Russia sees NATO as an enemy and vice versa. So, is a new Cold War heating up?

It's a difficult situation for countries like Brazil, India, and South Africa, which have strong diplomatic and financial ties to both sides, and whose economies are suffering the effects of high fuel prices and rising global inflation. There is also the issue of Turkey––a NATO member that's used its veto power to block Sweden's membership in the alliance. With both sides digging in for the long haul, between Russia and NATO, how much room for diplomacy is there in the messy middle?

Note: this interview appeared in an episode of GZERO World with Ian Bremmer on April 24, 2023, "Russia vs. NATO: Heightened risk of war"