Joe Buff is an American author of naval techno-thrillers, including the bestseller Tidal Rip.
NATO immediately mobilizes and a large convoy sets sail towards South Africa with only Germany holding out due to "social unrest".
In a pre-planned move, Germany and South Africa use tactical nuclear warheads to destroy a NATO convoy, Warsaw, and Tripoli.
On the side of the allies, only America, the United Kingdom, Mexico, the Republic of Ireland, Chile, Venezuela, Costa Rica, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and several unnamed African nations are still fighting, with Cuba quietly supporting them.
Although through the course of the war, Brazil, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Turkey, India, Indonesia, most of the Middle East, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Russia join the Allies.