FollowingthecrisisinUkraineandRussia’sinvolvementinSyria,theworldisclosertosuperpowerconfrontationthanatanytimesincetheendoftheColdWar.NowacommitteeofseniorformerBritishmilitaryanddiplomaticfigurescomestogethertowargameahypothetical‘hotwar’inEasternEurope,includingtheunthinkable-nuclearconfrontation.TheWarRoomfacesascenariothathashauntedwesternstrategistssincecivilwarbrokeoutinUkraine:potentialRussianmilitaryinvolvementintheBalticStatesofLatviaandEstonia.LikeUkrainethesecountrieshavesizableRussianspeakingminorities,butunlikeUkrainetheyaremembersofNATO,whosefoundingtreatystatesthatanattackononeallyisanattackonallofthem.Becauseofthis,westernanalystsregularlywargameasituationwhereRussiaseekstoexploitethnictensionsintheBalticandtestthestrengthoftheNATOAlliance.