The Worst Case Scenario before Trump Takes Office

The period between the U.S. presidential election in which the Republicans helped Donald Trump win reelection and when Trump takes office next Jan. 20 is the most dangerous time for the world. This is especially true on two raging fronts: Ukraine and the Middle East, particularly Gaza and Southern Lebanon. Added to the mix is the hostility that Joe Biden feels toward Trump given Trump’s intention to complicate the situation in the regions. These two men don’t understand that the world may be on the verge of a third world war.

The Russian-Ukrainian front deviated from the consensus and strategic interests of the West and Russia when Biden allowed Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelenskyy a deep strike against Russia with U.S. ATACMS missiles and U.K. storm shadow missiles. Russia launched a cautionary Oreshnik missile attack in response.

Zelenskyy is now experiencing the worst possible situation because of Trump’s reelection, a man who would end this war. This may benefit Russia on the ground as Ukraine will lose territory occupied by Russia, which is equivalent to more than 20% of Ukraine’s perimeter. Or, if the war continues, a lack of support for Ukraine could mean the country falls to Russia. As such, people expect Zelenskyy will retaliate with or without informing the current U.S. administration. This could mean attacking a Russian nuclear reactor, or loading a ballistic missile with a nuclear warhead and striking deep into Russian territory once Ukraine indirectly acquires a nuclear bomb. This would prompt an immediate nuclear reaction from Russia pursuant to its modified military doctrine.

As for the Middle East, the efforts of U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein have grown more complicated since he returned empty-handed from a visit to Lebanon and Israel having sought a U.S. agreement. Israel foiled the mediation and continues its military aggression in Lebanon as a point of pressure to achieve political gains. The Lebanese resistance responded quickly Sunday by launching 350 missiles at Israel, roiling the country’s interior as while 4 million Israelis rushed to shelters. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is living in his worst nightmare after the International Criminal Court’s decision to issue a warrant for his arrest. This may push him to act without the coordination of his ally, the U.S. He could commit new war crimes in Lebanon and Gaza or strike Iranian nuclear reactors to start a war that will extend to all regions of the world.

So the Biden and Trump administrations must bear responsibility for what is happening now and what will happen if the fears that Zelenskyy and Netanyahu bear cause things to go wrong and drag the U.S. and the entire world into a destructive war with no winners or losers. Trump and Biden must work immediately to stop both wars.