When Will World War III Begin? Global Escalations, Nuclear Threats & Expert Forecasts

With escalating tensions in the Middle East, the war in Ukraine, and rapid nuclear armament, the question “When will World War III start?” looms large. We unpack recent developments, trigger points, and expert insights.

Recent days saw a serious escalation between Israel and Iran. Iran’s missile attacks near Tel Aviv killed civilians, prompting a heavy Israeli counter-response—over 150 targets hit, including nuclear installations—and calls for restraint from Britain en.wikipedia.org+6mirasafety.com+6www3.nnu.edu+6economictimes.indiatimes.com.

Former U.S. President Trump abruptly left the G7 summit, publicly urging Tehran evacuation and warning that the conflict could spiral into a global war economictimes.indiatimes.com. Meanwhile, U.S. diplomacy appears stalled.

SIPRI reports rising nuclear arsenals across Russia, the U.S., China, India, Pakistan, North Korea, Israel, and others, increasing the risk of nuclear use m.economictimes.com. The Doomsday Clock now reads 89 seconds to midnight—the closest since the Cuban Missile Crisis en.wikipedia.org+2en.wikipedia.org+2the-sun.com+2.

In Washington, the North Star AI simulates digital twin scenarios of global leaders to forecast conflict outcomes—a novel “peace tech,” though its real-world impact is debated businessinsider.com.

An Atlantic Council survey finds 40 % of strategists expect a multi-front global war within ten years, possibly involving nuclear and space warfare atlanticcouncil.org.

Interesting Facts

• In April 2024, Iran deployed over 300 missiles/drones at Israel; Russia-North Korea have deepened military ties amid the Ukraine war en.wikipedia.org.

• Psychics like Baba Vanga and Nostradamus predict WWIII could erupt by end‑2025 timesofindia.indiatimes.com+2m.economictimes.com+2nypost.com+2.

• YouGov polls show 41–55 % of Europeans fear a third world war in the next 5–10 years yougov.co.uk+1mirasafety.com+1.

Opinions

• UK analysts warn that a regional missile strike could draw in Russia, China, and the U.S., turning local war into global .

• U.S. intelligence figure Tulsi Gabbard warns the world is “closer to nuclear war than ever” wsj.com.

• However, Texas A&M experts caution against equating current events with world wars, arguing they are still limited in scope today.tamu.edu.

Conclusion

So when will WWIII start? There’s no set timeline. But with nuclear arsenals growing, regional wars between great powers escalating, and diplomatic paralysis, the stage is set for a potential global conflict. It’s essential to push for accelerated diplomacy, de-escalation efforts, and international governance on WMDs to avert disaster.