A researcher from NATO has raised concerns over the increasing clarity of the potential for a third global conflict. Florence Gaub, who heads research at the NATO Defense College, expressed that the world could inadvertently drift into a widespread conflict despite no intentional desire for it.

During an interview with Spanish newspaper El País, Gaub acknowledged the growing visibility of this risk, pointing out that the path to such a conflict may not be a deliberate decision but rather a series of unintended events such as accidents, misunderstandings, escalating rhetoric, or decisions made under duress.

Gaub emphasized the importance of investing in defense and diplomacy to prevent inadvertently crossing boundaries that could lead to conflict, stating, “Very often, a line gets crossed that nobody wanted to cross. That is why investing in defence is as important as investing in diplomacy.”

Discussing the potential US-Israeli conflict with Iran, Gaub noted that tensions have been brewing since the early 2000s when Iran’s nuclear program was exposed. She highlighted that unresolved sources of conflict, combined with the capacity and willingness to engage in hostilities, could eventually culminate in war.

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