What Will Happen If WW3 Begun?

 The question of what will happen if World War III (WW3) begun is one that has been asked and debated by many people, especially in light of the recent events in Ukraine, where Russia has invaded and occupied parts of the country, sparking a major crisis and confrontation with the West. While no one can predict the exact course and outcome of a hypothetical global war, some experts and analysts have tried to envision some of the possible scenarios and implications of such a cataclysmic event. Here are some of the main points and perspectives that they have offered.

The Causes and Triggers of WW3

The causes and triggers of WW3 are likely to be complex and multifaceted, involving a combination of political, economic, ideological, religious, ethnic, and environmental factors. Some of the potential sources of conflict and tension that could escalate into a world war include:

• The rivalry and competition between the United States and China, which are the two superpowers vying for global influence and dominance. The US-China relations have deteriorated in recent years over issues such as trade, technology, human rights, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Xinjiang, South China Sea, and Covid-19. The risk of a military confrontation or an accidental clash between the two countries is high, especially in the Indo-Pacific region, where both sides have deployed their naval and air forces.
• The aggression and expansionism of Russia, which has been challenging the security and stability of Europe and its neighbors. Russia has invaded and annexed Crimea in 2014, supported separatist rebels in eastern Ukraine since 2014, intervened militarily in Syria since 2015, interfered in the elections and politics of several Western countries since 2016, poisoned and imprisoned opposition leader Alexei Navalny in 2020, massed troops on the border with Ukraine in 2021, and launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2023. Russia has also threatened to use nuclear weapons if its interests are threatened by NATO or the US.
• The instability and violence in the Middle East, which has been plagued by wars, conflicts, terrorism, revolutions, coups, protests, and humanitarian crises for decades. Some of the key issues and actors that could ignite a wider war in the region include: the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which has flared up again in 2023 after Hamas launched a massive rocket attack on Israel; the Iranian nuclear program, which has been pursued by Tehran despite international sanctions and opposition; the Saudi-Iranian rivalry, which has fueled proxy wars in Yemen, Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, and Bahrain; the Turkish-Kurdish conflict, which has involved Turkey’s military operations against Kurdish militants in Syria and Iraq; the Islamic State (IS), which has been defeated but not eliminated in Iraq and Syria; and other extremist groups such as Al Qaeda, Hezbollah, Hamas, Taliban, etc.
• The climate change and environmental degradation, which have caused severe impacts on the planet’s ecosystems and resources. Some of the consequences of climate change and environmental degradation that could contribute to a world war include: rising sea levels, melting ice caps, droughts, floods, storms, wildfires, heat waves, crop failures, water scarcity, food insecurity, mass migration, refugee crises, disease outbreaks, biodiversity loss, and natural disasters.

The Course and Outcome of WW3

The course and outcome of WW3 are likely to be unpredictable and uncertain, depending on various factors such as: the alliances and coalitions that are formed or broken among different countries; the strategies and tactics that are adopted or abandoned by different actors; the weapons and technologies that are used or developed by different forces; the reactions and responses that are made or missed by different leaders; the interventions and mediations that are attempted or avoided by different organizations; the resilience and resistance that are shown or surrendered by different populations; etc.

However, some possible scenarios and implications of WW3 are:

• A conventional war scenario: In this scenario, WW3 would be fought mainly with conventional weapons such as tanks, planes, ships, artillery, missiles, etc. The main theaters of war would be Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. The main combatants would be NATO and its allies versus Russia and its allies; the US and its allies versus China and its allies; Israel and its allies versus Iran and its allies; Turkey versus Kurdish forces; etc. The war would last for several years and result in millions of casualties and massive destruction on both sides. The war would end with a negotiated settlement or a stalemate or a decisive victory for one side or another.

• A nuclear war scenario: In this scenario, WW3 would be fought mainly with nuclear weapons such as atomic bombs, hydrogen bombs, neutron bombs, etc. The main targets of nuclear attacks would be major cities, military bases, industrial centers, etc. The main perpetrators of nuclear attacks would be Russia, the US, China, India, Pakistan, North Korea, Israel, Iran, etc. The war would last for a few days or weeks or months and result in billions of casualties and catastrophic destruction on a global scale. The war would end with a mutual annihilation or a nuclear winter or a nuclear holocaust or a nuclear disarmament.

• A cyber war scenario: In this scenario, WW3 would be fought mainly with cyber weapons such as viruses, worms, trojans, malware, ransomware, etc. The main targets of cyber attacks would be computer networks, information systems, communication systems, infrastructure systems, etc. The main perpetrators of cyber attacks would be state actors or non-state actors such as hackers, terrorists, criminals, activists, etc. The war would last for an indefinite period and result in widespread disruptions and damages on a digital level. The war would end with a cyber security or a cyber warfare or a cyber peace or a cyber apocalypse.

The Consequences and Lessons of WW3

The consequences and lessons of WW3 are likely to be profound and lasting, affecting the lives and futures of generations to come. Some of the possible consequences and lessons of WW3 are:

• The human and material costs of WW3 would be enormous and unprecedented, surpassing those of the previous world wars. Millions or billions of people would die or suffer from injuries, diseases, starvation, displacement, trauma, etc. Trillions or quadrillions of dollars worth of property and resources would be destroyed or wasted. The environment and the climate would be severely damaged or altered. The civilization and the culture would be severely disrupted or diminished.
• The political and social impacts of WW3 would be significant and diverse, reshaping the world order and the global governance. Some countries or regions would emerge as winners or losers, gaining or losing power and influence. Some countries or regions would collapse or disintegrate, facing chaos and instability. Some countries or regions would unite or cooperate, forming new alliances and organizations. Some countries or regions would reform or transform, adopting new policies and systems.
• The moral and ethical implications of WW3 would be profound and challenging, raising questions and dilemmas about the values and principles of humanity. Some people or groups would show courage or compassion, helping or saving others. Some people or groups would show cowardice or cruelty, harming or killing others. Some people or groups would show wisdom or folly, learning or repeating mistakes. Some people or groups would show hope or despair, creating or destroying opportunities.

WW3 is a hypothetical but possible event that could happen in the near or distant future. It is a scenario that should be avoided at all costs, as it would bring unimaginable suffering and destruction to the world. It is also a scenario that should be prepared for at all times, as it could happen at any moment. It is a scenario that should be learned from at all levels, as it could teach valuable lessons to humanity.

WW3 is an event that could make us feel dead.