There is no human history without wars and conflicts, and no human life without fights. The tales of war will continue to fill human history as an epic and it will end only with the end of the human race on earth. All animals fight but not as disastrously as humans do.
War or conflict is not new to humanity. Since the day humans begin their journey, internal strife has accompanied us. Throughout history, we have rarely had harmonious relationships with our neighbours. Human history and every epic speak stories of wars and warriors, friends and enemies and loss and gains out of wars.
Infighting is as old as humankind, with some of the most significant conflicts arising between siblings, often over issues like territory, resources, or power. Wars have been fought with various aims —sometimes for women, sometimes for wealth, and at other times for land and development, though wars fought for sustaining life are rare. Yet, we continue to engage in wars, often for reasons perceived as unreasonable or unfounded. For many, war is a hobby or an adventure; for others, it is a livelihood, and for some, it is a business opportunity.
The motivations behind war can vary widely from individual to individual, or from country to country. For example, the conflict in Afghanistan lasted nearly 20 years, while the Vietnam War lasted more than 19 years. The Syrian Civil War continued for over a decade, exposing how conflicts could continue for years without resolution.
The threat of war escalated dramatically when the US President authorised the use of missiles within Russia—an unprecedented move. These missiles reportedly have a range of 300 kilometres. Following this authorisation, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky acted quickly to exercise this authority, which angered Russian President Vladimir Putin. Putin responded with threats of using nuclear weapons against NATO or potentially against Ukraine.
After Donald Trump won the presidency, the dynamics of the war shifted. Zelensky alluded that he anticipated an end to the war by 2025, recognising that Trump and his associates were less inclined to invest in a conflict with no direct benefit to the US. Elon Musk advised Zelensky to consider conceding Crimea to conclude the war. That could be a difficult decision for Zelensky, but he felt he had no alternative.
Recently, changes in US policies have raised questions. Biden’s actions created uncertainty; Trump had previously extended a hand towards Putin, which complicated relationships. Currently, it is unclear whether Biden’s harsher stance is driven by personal or political motives, but the global community is apprehensive about the possibility of a third world war. Putin did not expect the conflict to extend for such a long period. Now he faces internal troubles as well. Russia’s support from North Korea, a country historically antagonistic toward the West, may have contributed to Biden’s decisions. However, Zelensky should be cautious not to over-rely on such support, as history shows that US allies, like Ukraine, have faced abandonment in times of need.
Today, countries like Sweden, along with NATO allies such as Norway and Finland, are preparing their citizens for the possibility of nuclear conflict. They have distributed pamphlets alerting citizens against a potential nuclear attack from Russia. The lack of explicit admission about the intention behind these actions tells a fact – it implies that dictators are gearing up for a possible World War III.
This scenario poses a significant threat to global peace and could lead to economic crises in Europe and threaten the stability of nations. Most contemporary governments are led by autocrats who often lack parliamentary authorisation or public support when declaring war or using nuclear weapons. For these leaders, maintaining power is paramount, and they will undertake extreme measures to achieve that—illustrated by Israel’s ongoing military actions.
As humans, we often find ourselves trapped in this cycle of conflict, as nations fabricate shadow enemies to justify trillions worth of arms trading and profit-making. Unfortunately, the lives of ordinary people are often disregarded; they remain the unwitting victims of endless conflicts. There is no way to stop the recurrence of history.