Set in 2016 it imagines a Russian, Putin type character dealing with a struggling economy hurt by falling oil prices and economic sanctions because of their take over of the Eastern half of Ukraine including Crimea.
The ‘spy stuff’ deals with money laundering and investment schemes by Russian oligarchy, specifically “Velodin” moving his $8B in personal wealth as insurance in case things go south. Velodin, to gain stature, he threatens Lithuania in order to secure controlled access to Russian access to Kaliningrad. The geo-politics resemble our current situation.
The political-stuff deals with Jack Ryan as the US President building a case for NATO involvement to protect and defend the new member state. He describes the supposed/likely reactions from different member states focusing on passive countries like Denmark, US Allies like Great Britain and practical responses like Germany. In the end, the US is going it alone. Positioning troops from the region in Lithuania in advance of a full-on invasion. The battle turns out to be traditional kinetic tank battle with the specter of nuclear war with advanced submarines positioned off the US East coast.
It tells a tale of what could be, entertaining and reflective of our current world situation.
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