Is a world war already afoot?

While many of us are focused on the present Ukraine issue, it is necessary to keep in mind that there are now roughly 40 wars happening worldwide. From Mexico all the way to Yemen.

A world war is defined as "a war involving many nations of the world" by the Britannica dictionary. When many of us anticipate a world war, we envision the United States, maybe Britain, and other European countries banding together against a foreign force.

However, it may be argued that our perspective on a world war is heavily skewed toward the West. Many of us cannot fathom a world war in which the United States or Britain are not involved, and it is because of this belief that we are so hesitant to say that our world could be at war right now.

With so many countries in red, it's possible that a world war is breaking out right now.Even if the United States is not in direct confrontation with any country at the moment,  we can not deny its military intervention in foreign countries. For example, the American engagement in Afghanistan may be classified as a war, and with Britain involved and supplying soldiers to the nation, it could technically be classified as a "world war".

Many of us are waiting for it to be proclaimed clearly on television or in the headlines of newspapers, "World War 3 has begun" but I believe that we won't be able to determine if we are in World War 3.

Perhaps the beginning of world war 3 will only be clearly realised after a hundred years or maybe even more, when historians and academics compile all the available material and data. With so many conflicts occurring and more to come, it is difficult to predict if a world war, such as the ones we study about in school, will be declared any day suddenly like we imagine it to.

Noor Munawar