Merkulov looked at the President, who nodded back for him to continue. And he did not disappoint. “The reality is that by letting us take the Baltics without intervening to stop us when they clearly had the chance, NATO has effectively ceased to exist as a military alliance. It has lost three member states and cannot recover them. NATO has been put to the test and failed.”

The President reflected for a moment and then smiled, baring his teeth. He looked around at his advisers before striking the table with his fist. This was his moment to show that he was a man of both will and destiny.

“The way ahead is clear.” He looked at his Foreign Minister. “Yevgeney Sergeyevich, you are to continue to work away at the minor nations of the Alliance to wean them away from American influence; to divide and rule, make sure they do not rediscover their balls. But at the same time, remember that there is only one principle of war which matters. And that is concentration of force. You are to make it very clear to America and NATO through your diplomatic channels that any attempt to recapture the Baltic states will be judged an attack on Russia. An attack on Russia will invite the most extreme response. Never forget, America is a bully and, like all bullies, will back off when confronted. There is only one way to deal with America . . . and that is to show strength.”

“Meaning?” Everyone knew precisely what the President meant, but the donnish Foreign Minister wanted to hear him say it in front of everyone.

The President looked around the room again, clearly aware of the enormity of what he had just been asked. Then, eyes cold, voice deadpan and betraying no hint of emotion or stress, he replied, “I am ready to use tactical nuclear weapons, exactly as we have practiced in all our recent exercises, in order to stop any counter-attack by NATO. What I like to call nuclear ‘de-escalation,’ because it is the surest way to get the West to step back from the brink of a nuclear exchange. And there is no way America will risk the destruction of Europe or its own cities by replying in kind.”

The room was silent. Komarov looked at the faces around the table. No one dared show any emotion, but even he, who had rehearsed this moment with the President earlier that morning, felt the sense of occasion at the President’s carefully considered words. It was one thing to integrate the use of nuclear weapons into every aspect of military doctrine. It was quite another to hear the President unambiguously risk nuclear Armageddon and the eradication of life in Europe.