Futurist Parag Khanna fears we're already in third world war
The world is already fighting a third world war, according to the global strategist Parag Khanna, who says there is no reason to wait for historians to name it. The shooting may be confined to pockets, but the global economy and trade system already look like a war zone, says the noted author and frequent Davos speaker. “I’ll be honest with you, I actually think we are in World War III,” Mr…
Global strategist Parag Khanna believes the world is already in a third world war, despite the conflict remaining confined to certain areas. He argues the global economy and trade system resemble a war zone. In a recent interview, Khanna pointed to weapon transfers, troop movements, and flows of oil, gas, commodities, gold, and stockpiles as evidence of the interconnectedness of the conflict. He noted that North Korean soldiers have been deployed alongside Russian forces fighting against Ukraine.
The UAE, according to Khanna, is experiencing a different kind of crisis than it has faced in the past. For the first time, the country is being directly targeted and hit, marking a significant shift. However, Khanna does not believe this represents a turning point but rather another episode where the UAE demonstrates its resilience.
Khanna predicts a lighter US presence in the Gulf, with bases damaged by Iranian attacks likely not being rebuilt. Instead, the US will focus on cyber capabilities, missile defenses, and drones. While this may appear as a retreat, Khanna warns against reading it as such. Rather, the US will maintain a strong presence through alternative means.
A more significant shift is occurring in Gulf trade and investment ties with East Asia. These connections have strengthened since the commodity boom of the 2000s and are expected to be irreversible. Khanna believes this shift will ultimately be seen as the rise of Asian dominance in Asia, rather than the rise of China alone.
Looking to 2027, Khanna identifies unresolved border disputes as the greatest risk in the region. These "frozen conflicts" are often dormant and tend to flare up at inconvenient times. To address this risk, he proposes a regional security forum involving key players, including Israel, Iran, Turkey, Egypt, and GCC countries. He cites the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) as a successful model for such a forum.
Khanna believes Abu Dhabi, as the de facto capital of the region, is ideally suited to host this forum.
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