The REAL Reason World War 3 Is Getting Closer

Risk of a Wider War

Dr. Sarah Paine warns that if current trends continue, the world could move toward a third world war. She argues that nuclear weapons do not make the world safe: a serious confrontation among nuclear powers could have catastrophic consequences, and the risk of escalation around NATO is especially dangerous. If Russia attacked a NATO member such as Poland, she believes a wider war could follow.

Paine says leaders who remembered the Second World War were particularly cautious about provoking another major conflict. She worries that this restraint is weakening.

Ukraine and NATO

Paine calls Volodymyr Zelensky a courageous leader and says the United States should support Ukraine and help it recover. She rejects the claim that NATO expansion caused Russia’s aggression, arguing that Eastern European countries sought NATO membership because they feared Russian domination.

Drawing on her experience in the Soviet Union and her account of Soviet control in Eastern Europe, Paine says those fears were rooted in historical repression and coercion.

U.S. Foreign Policy and Alliances

Paine criticizes Donald Trump’s approach to foreign policy. She argues that displays of American power and interference abroad can make other countries feel less secure and push them toward China. In her view, this weakens U.S. influence and damages the alliances that protect American interests.

She also condemns the administration’s handling of the war. Political decision-makers, she says, should judge wars by their strategic purpose and consequences—not simply by battlefield results.

Democracy and Authoritarianism

A broader theme is the danger of authoritarian leaders and what Paine describes as “dark personalities” gaining power. She argues that democracies, despite their flaws, are better able to generate prosperity and protect individual freedom.

Paine also warns that wealthy technology figures can threaten democracy when they use their money to influence elections or resist regulation.

Advice for Young People

Paine urges young people not to dismiss the possibility of war simply because they have not experienced it. She recommends that they:

• Keep learning and read history.
• Seek information from multiple perspectives.
• Talk across social divides.
• Vote.

She also explains the distinction between the tactical, operational, and strategic levels of war. The strategic question—why a country is fighting and whether the conflict serves its security and prosperity—is the one that matters most.

Presenters and Contributors

• Steven Bartlett: Host
• Dr. Sarah Paine: Guest