A New Global Conflict: The 'New World War' and the Shifting Landscape of Modern Warfare

Sat, 02 May 2026 17:30:00 +0200

The article explores the rising global tensions, suggesting the world is heading toward a major conflict that could surpass current confrontations in both intensity and scale. This potential conflict would unite various 'hot' fronts, including the ongoing issues in Ukraine, the Middle East, and the latent tensions in East Asia. While many consider we are entering the Third World War, the author argues that the real conflict is something different: the 'New World War,' a concept developed by Russian analyst Dmitri Trenin. Trenin highlights the differences between this emerging conflict and the previous global wars, focusing on the obsolescence of Cold War-era rules and the rise of new forms of warfare, including cyber attacks, drones, and missile defense systems. Traditional alliances are weakening, and a shift in how nations engage in military action is evident. Nuclear threats, once a major deterrent, are no longer as effective, with limited nuclear warfare becoming a feasible option.