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When Donald Trump returned to the White House, part of his message centered around keeping American troops out of prolonged foreign conflicts. On the surface, this promise appealed to a war-weary public. Yet, alongside those assurances, came a series of actions and statements that unsettled analysts. Escalating pressure regarding Venezuela, sharp rhetoric toward Iran, and repeated public insistence that the U.S. should acquire Greenland all contributed to a growing sense that global stability is hanging by a thread.
At the heart of public anxiety lies the prospect of a third world war. Unlike previous conflicts, a modern global war—particularly one involving nuclear weapons—would do more than just redraw borders or shift power dynamics. It would threaten life on a scale that could irreversibly alter civilization. Optimists point to deterrence, treaties, and rational self-interest as barriers to such a catastrophe. But more cautious voices argue that history is filled with wars that didn’t start from long-term plans, but from miscalculations, pride, and moments where restraint faltered.
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