As missiles rain from the sky in Iran and Israel, and President Donald Trump leaves Canada’s G7 summit early, there are fears that we’re on the brink of war. Worse than this, there’s an ever-increasing number of high-ranking officials and experts who claim we’re already in the midst of World War III without even knowing it.
Israel and Iran have been exchanging missiles, with the former claiming Iran is building a nuclear weapon. This is something President Donald Trump has said we absolutely can’t allow to happen, later posting on Truth Social and demanding an ‘unconditional surrender’ from Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Khamenei has responded saying: “Let the Americans know that the Iranian nation is not one to surrender.” Russian general Apti Alaudinov says we’re already in the throes of WWIII, while there are fears that a ‘distracted USA’ could be caught in the crossfire.
With two US aircraft carrier groups expected to be stationed in the Middle East, the USS Nimitz and the USS Carl Vinson are positioned in the event that things escalate further.
Trump previously vowed to keep the USA out of ‘forever wars’ like those that led to the deaths of thousands of its troops in Afghanistan and Iraq, but if WWIII kicks off, a draft could pull millions more into the conflict.
The Selective Service System (SSS) has been drafting US soldiers since 1917, notably leading to 1.9 million being called forward to fight in the Vietnam War that ran between 1954 and 1975.
The SSS previously used a random lottery based on your date of birth, and even in 2025, all male citizens between the ages of 18 and 25 have to register for the draft. This includes undocumented immigrants, refugees, and green card holders, while anyone who fails to comply could face a maximum fine of $250,000.
These young males are put into the primary pool, typically starting with the 20-year-olds and then moving upward and downward. They’re tested on whether they’re fit for service, requiring a physical and mental health evaluation. Anyone medically or psychologically unfit would be deferred or exempted.
In terms of who’s exempt, talks about expanding the draft to include women haven’t been passed at the time of writing. Conscientious objectors, full-time students, and essential workers in fields like healthcare and tech infrastructure might be deferred on national need. Parents and caregivers with dependents may also receive hardship deferments.
Interestingly, those with specialized skills in cybersecurity, AI, languages, medicine, and engineering might be recruited before general infantry service. With an eventual World War III tipped to be more technologically advanced than ever before, tech workers who have expertise in the likes of AI and drones could be placed into defense-related work rather than standard combat roles.
The last draft was called in 1973, and despite much debate about the need for modernization, it’s unclear whether this would be done in time for an official breakout of World War III or whether President Trump would still go with the current scenario. Either way, millions could soon find themselves pulled into action.
The world is in a worrying state right now, and as there are calls for President Donald Trump to wade into the growing troubles between Iran and Israel, there are continued claims that we’re in the midst of World War III without officially knowing it.
One of Vladimir Putin’s generals has called for the Russian President to mobilize one million troops as World War III kicks off, while there are fears that a ‘distracted’ USA could be caught in the crossfire as the likes of Russia, China, and North Korea make a move for power. If that wasn’t enough to keep you up at night, what about the idea that artificial intelligence will be a catalyst in the next global conflict?
We’ve seen AI predict the horrifying death toll of WWIII, what kind of futuristic weapons will be used, and which countries could be influential in triggering it, but it seems to have missed out the bit where it could be a deciding factor.
AI could be key in making someone press the big red button (VCG / Contributor / Getty)
According to conflict experts, concerns about AI have led to countries with nuclear stockpiles being more tetchy. That’s according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), which notes that China’s stockpile has increased from 500 to 600 nuclear warheads in a single year. Couple this with the upcoming end of the final arms control treaty between the US and Russia, and we’re right to be cautious.
Although China’s arsenal is growing at the fastest rate, the USA and Russia still have around 90% of the world’s supply, meaning it’s important that Trump and Putin stay on each other’s side.
As for AI’s role in these ballooning numbers, SIPRI director Dan Smith warned: “The rapid development and application of an array of technologies—for example in the fields of artificial intelligence (AI), cyber capabilities, space assets, missile defence and quantum—are radically redefining nuclear capabilities, deterrence and defence, and thus creating potential sources of instability.”
Even though computers are getting smarter, humans might not be. Smith continues: “As AI and other technologies speed up decision making in crises, there is a higher risk of a nuclear conflict breaking out as a result of miscommunication, misunderstanding or technical accident.”https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/114675456780398208/embed
With all this new tech at our disposal, Smith concluded: “The idea of who is ahead in the arms race will be even more elusive and intangible than it was last time round. In this context, the old largely numerical formulas of arms control will no longer suffice.”
Nine countries currently have nuclear weapons, and while Britain, China, France, Russia, and the USA all signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, India and Pakistan declined to. North Korea initially signed but then withdrew before its first nuclear test, while Israel refused to sign and hasn’t publicly declared how many nuclear weapons it has.
Iran has been accused of building a nuclear weapon, with Trump reiterating: “They can’t have a nuclear weapon. Very simple—we’re not going to allow that.” The POTUS left Canada’s G7 summit early, later denying reports from France’s Emmanuel Macron that it was to work on a ceasefire. As AI continues to develop faster than we can keep track of, and as nuclear arsenals continue to swell, the Doomsday Clock sits closer to midnight than ever before.