Is World War III Already Happening? Historian Warns of 3 Clear Signs

Sometimes you read the news, and it hits hard. A British professor says World War III may have already started. We just haven’t noticed it yet.

Anthony Gleaze is Emeritus Professor at the University of Buckingham. He shared his view in the Daily Mail in March 2026. According to him, three main signs show that a new world war is underway.

Sign 1: Wars of Choice

Powerful countries now start big conflicts not for self-defense. They do it because of political decisions. Gleaze points to recent US and Israeli strikes on Iran as examples.

Sign 2: Ignoring International Law

Rules no longer matter for some nations. They follow the idea “might makes right.” The professor says this same attitude appeared before World War I and World War II.

Sign 3: No Desire for Quick Peace

Countries prefer to drag conflicts on instead of ending them fast. This makes wars longer and spreads them to new regions.

Gleaze also mentions Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. He believes this event fits all three signs. Future historians may one day call it the real start of World War III.

It’s a scary thought. We imagine World War III as huge explosions and chaos. But maybe it begins slowly. It grows step by step while most people continue their normal lives.

Whether the professor is right or not, his warning deserves attention. The patterns he sees are worth watching closely.

Sources: Daily Mail—Interview with Anthony Gleaze, Emeritus Professor, University of Buckingham (March 2026).

Several media outlets previously reported another problem following Iran’s attack on a water treatment plant in Bahrain. Following this, the Persian Gulf countries faced a serious water crisis.

 Conflict Historian