World War III?

Lightening up the mood around here… it has been tradition for the last few years for me to write about possible WWIII flashpoints. This year (like last) I have to wonder whether we are actually already in the Third World War; if conflict were to break out between the United States and China over Taiwan, or if Pakistan and India were to escalate, would we think of the Russia-Ukraine War in the same terms that we now think of the Sino-Japanese War? Or of WWII before June 22, 1941? Anyway, adding “Greenland” to the list was altogether dispiriting…

The rules-based international order seems to be breaking down. The United States shows little interest in containing global conflicts. What could this mean for the prospects of serious international conflict—even the beginning of a dreaded “World War III”—in 2026?  Here are five flashpoints to keep your eyes on.