A Blueprint for Deterrence with Adm. Rob Bauer and Eleonora Russell

A Blueprint for Deterrence with Adm. Rob Bauer and Eleonora Russell

From Chain Reaction by FPRI

April 8, 2026 · 48 min

About this episode

Admiral Rob Bauer and Eleonora Russell discuss the vulnerabilities in our safety mindset and the importance of a whole of society approach to deterrence.

Welcome back to the Ties That Bind , a project of the Foreign Policy Research Institute examining the past, present, and future of NATO and the transatlantic relationship. We often assume our safety is a “government problem,” but guests Admiral Rob Bauer, the former Chair of the NATO Military Committee, and Strategic Communications Advisor Eleonora Russell argue that this mindset is our greatest vulnerability. Drawing from their 2025 book, If You Want Peace, Prepare for War: A Blueprint for Deterrence , they challenge the idea that military strength alone is enough to protect our future. In this special episode of the Ties That Bind we discuss the core lessons from the book, what a “whole of society” approach really entails, how to effectively rebuild trust and engage citizens and industry, and what the future of the alliance may look like if we start fighting for the “we” in a world of “me.” Get full access to FPRI Insights at fpriinsights.substack.com/subscribe

People in this episode

Guests: Adm. Rob Bauer, Eleonora Russell

Topics covered

  • deterrence
  • NATO
  • transatlantic relationship
  • military strategy
  • societal engagement

Keywords

  • deterrence
  • NATO
  • military strength
  • society
  • trust
  • future of alliance

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Foreign Policy Research Institute, NATO

Books & works: If You Want Peace, Prepare for War: A Blueprint for Deterrence

More episodes of Chain Reaction

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Chain Reaction podcast page.