With talks of war and conscription, Russia on a total war footing (which doesn't just switch off), Wagner attacking a USA position a few years ago, China's encirclement drills around Taiwan, and high tensions, this is a thread for all things bellicose.

 

Just today , Donald Tusk, president of Poland and ex president of the EU, has said vote in the EU elections, or embolden right wing groups and face war. Today, Australa announced, for the first time ever, that it will hire solfiers from other nations.

 

Do you think we are close to a general war, a war with Russia or a global war?

It's all really worrying. My partner and I even talk about our evacuation plan just in case.

It’s started already, it will be in the Middle East this time not the west imo!

This together with the rapid progress of the climate emergency (which will fuel global migration on a level never seen before) and the terrifying vision of AI gone amok means life is going to be pretty horrific for the next generation.

It's all really worrying. My partner and I even talk about our evacuation plan just in case.

I made mine in Feb 2022 when Russia first invaded Ukraine. I live in the closest major „western“ capital to Russia so it’s a prime target. I know how I’m evacuating, where I’m going and how I’m getting there.

Been through all this sort of noise before with the original Cold War. Ask anyone of my age (Gen X - remember us? We were the ones whose parents needed to be reminded we existed and told we'd all be killed by nuclear war, Ozone failure or AIDS) and you're very likely to get a shrug of the shoulders and some reminiscing. I'm not saying there aren't valid concerns but this isn't unfamiliar territory and this doesn't feel anywhere near as tense or imminent as in the past, at least not to me or my friends.

 

Are we close to a war? We've been in a 2nd Cold War for about 15 years and Britain at least, has been involved in global conflicts almost everyday since I can remember. Are we closer to a war with Russia? The closest since the aftermath of Chernobyl yes, but not closer than the preceding years or at least it doesn't feel like it.

History tends to repeat itself so I wouldn't at all be surprised if there was an official "World War 3" at some point in time however I would be surprised if it got the level that everyone on the planet could in theory be at risk any second of the day.