Could a blockade of Kaliningrad improve the West’s negotiating position over Ukraine, and at what risk? This March 2024 case study begins with the Berlin Airlift, then considers negotiating leverage through the idea of a best alternative to a negotiated agreement. Kaliningrad’s geography and NATO’s partnerships provide the setting for the thought experiment.
The essay treats a blockade as a dangerous hypothetical, not a simple solution. It examines the need for allied agreement and the possibility of widening the war, while asking what patient determination accomplished in Berlin. The conclusion favors diplomacy, strong partnerships, and sustained economic support over an immediate incendiary action. What matters is strengthening our position without losing sight of the consequences.
Read the essay and sources: https://joelkdouglas.com/2024/03/26/a-case-study-should-we-enforce-a/
