The metaphorical sirens are wailing, but as fears of World War 3 continue to do the rounds, there are genuine worries that the sirens could start sounding in real life.
The world has been thrown into chaos in 2025, with the Russia-Ukraine war raging on and a new Iran-Israel conflict potentially pushing us closer to the next global conflict.
President Donald Trump has tried to broker peace with the various sides, but with the Doomsday Clock closer to midnight than ever before, the eyes of the world are on the various world leaders and their nuclear arsenals.
One of Vladimir Putin's generals has already claimed we're in the midst of WWIII without knowing it, while bubbling tensions between China and the USA have AI predicting this could be a catalyst that triggers the war.
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The next big war will undoubtedly use more futuristic weapons than ever before, and likely lead to a devastating death toll, so it's no surprise that even the slightest mention of WWIII has people on edge.
Things have only been exacerbated by NATO chief Mark Rutte, who has hypothesized about a joint attack from China and Russia.
The former Dutch Prime Minister predicts that Chinese leader Xi Jinping might attempt to take Taiwan while simultaneously pushing Vladimir Putin to launch an attack on NATO territory.
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Speaking to The New York Times, Rutte warned: "What is happening in Ukraine has direct links to what might potentially happen around Taiwan. There is a link between Russia and China here. And if the West gets this wrong, we may be forced into the worst possible scenario."
Looking at what could happen next, Rutte added: "Let’s not be naïve about this. If Xi Jinping would attack Taiwan, he would first make sure that he makes a call to his very junior partner in all of this, Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, residing in Moscow, and telling him, ‘Hey, I’m going to do this, and I need you to keep them busy in Europe by attacking NATO territory.
"That is most likely the way this will progress."
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China has referred to the Taiwan situation as a 'domestic matter' and declared that there will be military retaliation if it tries to declare independence.
In the aftermath of Russia making serious gains in Ukraine, the Baltic nations of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania have shared concerns that Putin will make a Stalin-inspired grab for these territories.
Saying that President Trump's increased spending on defense has forced Europe to 'step up', Rutte continued: “Eight countries at 2% this year would never have happened without Trump. The whole of NATO committing to 5% would not have happened without President Trump."
He went on to say: "I think the US is still one of the strongest democracies on Earth."
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Still, he reiterated that the USA withdrawing from NATO or hesitating on supporting an ally would only empower Moscow and Beijing.
Signing off with a grim foreshadowing, Rutte said: "In that case, we are in serious trouble."