This Is How NATO Envisions World War III: The Timeline and Division of Roles

7th July 2025

2 minutes read

This Is How NATO Envisions World War III: The Timeline and Division of Roles

From the Middle East to Ukraine and other global conflict zones, rising tensions are heightening fears of a potential World War III.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has warned that the third world war could be triggered if Chinese President Xi Jinping orders an assault on Taiwan, while his ally, Russian President Vladimir Putin, launches an attack on NATO countries to divert attention from the Pacific theater.

Rutte stated that it would be “naive” to believe that Xi’s ambition to seize Taiwan would remain a bilateral affair, predicting instead that a two-front war would likely erupt — according to a report from the New York Post.

“There’s a growing awareness,” Rutte said, adding that if Xi attacks Taiwan, Putin might call him to say: “I’ll do this, but I need you to keep them busy in Europe by attacking NATO territory,” according to The New York Times.

Xi and Putin maintain a close strategic alliance, which Xi has previously described as “without limits.”

Rutte’s forecast — that Beijing would use Moscow to distract the West — aligns with reports from a recent EU meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, during which the Chinese official allegedly claimed that Xi cannot afford to see Russia lose the war in Ukraine.

Meanwhile, U.S. and Taiwanese officials expect China to launch its attack on the island by 2027.

Rutte also warned that the world has already seen the potential of a Russian–Indo-Pacific alliance through developments in Ukraine, including the deployment of more than 12,000 North Korean troops to assist Moscow.

The conflict has also seen Russia using Iranian-made drones, and the EU has accused Chinese companies of supporting Russia’s military-industrial complex.

Rutte expressed support for NATO’s calls to increase defense spending, stating: “We’re seeing a growing interconnectedness between the Indo-Pacific and the Atlantic regions.”

He added: “We know China is watching Taiwan closely… In light of this geopolitical reality, we cannot defend ourselves while sticking to the outdated 2% defense spending threshold.”

To prevent a global war, Rutte stressed that NATO must boost its military strength to deter Russia from expanding the conflict into Europe.

He also urged Western nations to unite and push back against China’s assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific, a region where Beijing has recently conducted several large-scale military exercises around Taiwan.