Many Americans and Western Europeans believe a devastating World War 3 would break out within the next five to ten years, according to a YouGov poll presented in the online version of the British news outlet Guardian.
The findings showed that the majority of the respondents believed the events leading up to and following WWII were as timely as ever in light of the Russia-Ukraine war, claiming younger generations should continue to be taught about them at school.
Between 41 and 55% of those questioned from five European countries (UK, France, Italy, Spain, and Germany) included in the survey feared a global war would break out, a view shared by 45% of Americans.
Large majorities—ranging from 68% to 76%—believe that any potential future conflict is likely to involve nuclear weapons, according to recent survey data. Between 57% and 73% of respondents also think that a Third World War would claim far more lives than the Second World War, which took place between 1939 and 1945.
A significant portion of those surveyed—between 25% and 44%—go even further, fearing that World War 3 could lead to the extinction of most of humanity.
An overwhelming majority, from 66% of Italians to 89% of Britons, expect their country to be involved in a future global war. However, far fewer—only 44% of French respondents and just 16% of Italians—express confidence that their national armed forces would be capable of defending them in the event of war.
In stark contrast, 71% of Americans say they trust the U.S. military to protect them in a wartime scenario.
