As the tensions between countries are on a significant rise, several military experts have suggested that World War II might have already begun. They have asserted that though the war is not a big or obvious battle with bombs and missiles, but the tensions are building in a new and modern way which is less noticeable such as conflict between Ukraine and Russia and increasing disagreements between the Middle East and the Indo-Pacific region. Due to all these, the whole world is coming closer to a tipping point, which means a major global conflict has already started, but not in the traditional way. Further, military experts believe that these actions might lead to a bigger conflict if the countries continue to stretch the matters.
Mark Toth, a former National Security Expert, and Jonathan Sweet, a former US Intelligence officer, have described that World War III will not be like the previous wars of the 20th century. It will also not be similar to how Hollywood movies have picturized. Rather, it is happening now but in a slow and quiet manner with no mushroom clouds or apocalyptic wastelands. So, let’s discuss all the reasons which explain why it is believed that World War III has already started.
The Ongoing War Between Ukraine And Russia
The very first reason which explains why World War III has already started is the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. The former military commander-in-chief of Ukraine, Valery Zaluzhny, has stated that the involvement of Russia’s autocratic allies in its war with Ukraine directly simply means that World War III has started. He expressed that the reason behind this is that in 2024 Ukraine is not standing or facing Russia but other nations also. Soldiers from North Korea are standing in front of Ukraine and Iranian Shahedis are killing civilians in Ukraine openly. Also, Russia is receiving direct or indirect support from China, Belarus, and Iran. It has been said that indirect participation is creating a global divide among the world similar to alliances in the previous world wars. The former military official has urged the allies of Ukraine to understand the situation properly and make the right decisions.
Hybrid Warfare Is A New Kind Of War
The idea of hybrid warfare is one of the crucial reasons that led to the belief that World War III had begun already. Mark Toth and Jonathan Sweet believe that this is a new way through which a global conflict is happening. Hybrid warfare simply means a mix of physical battles and methods such as spreading false information, spying, hacking, cyberattacks, and economic tricks. According to them, today’s conflicts are not fought by traditional methods such as nuclear bombs or missiles. The two experts have pointed out Russia’s actions in Ukraine and other countries which shows the working of hybrid warfare. To cause disruption in Africa and expand its power, Russia is using paramilitary groups such as the Wagner Group. Also, Russia is increasing its influence in space and cyberspace, highlighting that modern wars do not require actual fighting on the ground.
Vladimir Putin is spreading fake information by using troll farms and AI-generated deepfakes so that Western countries get divided and public opinion is manipulated. Toth and Sweet suggest that these tactics are making the situation more complicated and are changing the overall dynamic of the war. In addition to this, some other ways used by Russia are sabotage, espionage, and secret missions such as attacking logistics centers of Western countries and killing political enemies. Therefore, military experts believe that Vladimir Putin’s greatest step to weaken the Western countries is by conducting hybrid warfare.
Ukraine Is Still Facing Intense Physical Warfare
The next reason that led military experts to believe that World War III has already started is the physical warfare faced by Ukraine. Experts have stated that though new tactics such as hybrid warfare are emerging, there are some regions like Ukraine that are still facing intense physical warfare. The war is still going on and is taking a catastrophic toll on both civilians as well as soldiers.
In response to Ukraine’s use of Western-supplied missiles, Russia is using new and advanced missiles such as the Oreshnik hypersonic missile. Also, Russia is majorly targeting Ukraine’s energy infrastructure with missiles and drones, due to which millions of citizens are facing power outages. On the basis of this, military experts argue that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine signifies a potential end of the post-World War II order. Mark Toth and Jonathan Sweet have stated that Vladimir Putin’s attack on Ukraine opened the doors for a big global conflict, known as World War III.
Rising Tensions Between Hamas And Israel Also Hints Towards WW3
The ongoing tensions between Israel and Hamas are another reason why experts believe that World War III has already started. The conflict between the two Middle Eastern regions escalated particularly after 7th October 2023, when Hamas launched a deadly attack on Israel. The attack triggered the Israel Defense Forces who in response, launched air strikes and ground operations on the Gaza Strip in order to target Hamas. The fight between Hamas and Israel has spread across other regions of the Middle East. The fighters of Hezbollah in Lebanon fought with Israel’s soldiers on the border. In Yemen, the rebels of Houthi launched missiles at Israel’s ships in the Red Sea. The US military bases in Syria and Iraq were targeted by some groups supported by Iran. Therefore, all of this hints that the global conflict has already started.
China’s Growing Aggression Towards Taiwan
The relations between China and Taiwan are very tense because, with each passing day, China is becoming more assertive towards the region. Experts believe that China’s growing aggression towards Indo-Pacific contributes to the concerns about a probable large-scale conflict. The main issue between the two regions is that Beijing views Taiwan as a part of its territory, but since 1949, Taiwan has been governed independently of China. Now, China wants to include Taiwan in its mainland and the country has vowed to unify Taiwan by using force if necessary. But Taiwan is not ready to do this, as they became a separate entity a long time back.
Due to this, tensions between the US and China are also rising because China has warned the US to stop selling weapons to the island. Former US president Joe Biden strongly supported Taiwan, stating that America would come to Taiwan’s defense if China attacked. Therefore, experts fear that an attack on Taiwan by China could bring the United States into a war with China, leading to a bigger global conflict.
Growing Difference Between Democracy And Authoritarianism Is Another Reason
The most important reason which implies that World War III has begun is the increasing difference between democracy and authoritarianism. According to Francois Hollande, former French president, the world is witnessing a conflict between these two things. He emphasizes that Russia, North Korea, and China are coming together so Europe needs to unite in order to fight them and protect democracy. Also, he mentioned that the Western countries’s advantage in the military and technology sector is diminishing because China is modernizing them at a very fast pace. Chief Air Marshal of the Royal Air Force, Sir Richard Knighton has also asserted that the Western countries need stronger defense systems so that they can fight the evils (China, Russia, and North Korea.) As per Knighton’s opinion, the air and space domain of the West is under a great challenge.
China Is Increasing The Number Of Nuclear Warheads
As global tensions are rising, a top Pentagon official recently warned that a war between the US and Russia or China could happen anytime. According to the official, the war is not unlikely, it can happen at any time. In the month of October, the Pentagon released its annual report, in which it revealed that China has currently more than 500 active nuclear warheads. It is predicted that by 2030, the number will reach over 1000 warheads.
