Davutoğlu: “World War III Has Effectively Begun”

Future Party leader Ahmet Davutoğlu said the world has entered a period of “systemic upheaval,” arguing that the international order has collapsed and that a new global conflict is already underway. Speaking at an iftar event in Bursa, the former Turkish prime minister warned that what he described as a “de facto Third World War” is unfolding through multiple regional conflicts rather than a single conventional war.

Davutoğlu Warns of “Systemic Earthquake” in Global Politics

Future Party leader Ahmet Davutoğlu, who served as Türkiye’s prime minister between 2014 and 2016, described the current international environment as a “systemic earthquake” that is reshaping global politics.

Speaking at an iftar gathering in Bursa, Davutoğlu argued that international institutions have lost their effectiveness and that the world is increasingly governed by what he called the “law of the jungle.”

According to Davutoğlu, global politics is entering a period where rules-based structures are eroding and conflicts are spreading across multiple regions simultaneously.

“World War III Has Already Started”

Davutoğlu claimed that what many describe as isolated conflicts are in fact parts of a broader global confrontation.

“Everyone should get used to this reality,” he said. “World War III has effectively begun.”

He argued that unlike the First and Second World Wars, the current conflict will not begin and end within a defined timeframe between clearly defined blocs.

Instead, Davutoğlu said the conflict is unfolding gradually through a series of regional confrontations that are increasingly interconnected.

“These are fragments of a much larger war,” he said.

Trump Accused of Dismantling Global Institutions

Davutoğlu also directed criticism at U.S. President Donald Trump, arguing that Washington has contributed to the collapse of the post–World War II international order.

According to Davutoğlu, the global system built around multilateral institutions has been severely weakened.

“Trump destroyed the existing order,” he said.

He claimed that institutions such as:

• the United Nations system

• the World Trade Organization

• the World Health Organization

• and UNESCO

have all been undermined, leaving little of the traditional international framework intact.

Multiple Conflicts Seen as “Fragments” of a Larger War

Davutoğlu pointed to several ongoing conflicts as evidence that the world is already moving toward a broader confrontation.

Among the examples he cited were:

• Russia’s war in Ukraine

• Israel’s military campaign in Gaza

• the expanding confrontation involving the United States, Israel, and Iran

• geopolitical tensions involving Venezuela and the United States

According to Davutoğlu, these conflicts represent different stages of a global escalation that could eventually spread across multiple fronts.

“At some point,” he said, “we will see a state of war across all fronts.”

Warning Issued Years Earlier

Davutoğlu said he had predicted such a development years ago.

He recalled that in 2017, shortly after Donald Trump’s first election victory, he wrote an article for the University of California analyzing the future of the global order.

In that analysis, he argued that the international system was heading toward a major structural rupture.

“I said that the international order would begin to crack like a major earthquake under Trump,” Davutoğlu said.

“Today we are living in the middle of that systemic earthquake.”

Gaza War Also Highlighted

Davutoğlu also addressed the humanitarian situation in Gaza during his remarks.

He claimed that the real death toll in Gaza may be significantly higher than official figures suggest, citing estimates published in international medical journals.

According to Davutoğlu, the number of casualties could potentially reach hundreds of thousands, far exceeding commonly reported figures.

Call for Strategic Preparedness

Davutoğlu concluded his speech by warning that countries must adapt their strategies to the emerging global environment.

He argued that Türkiye should strengthen its defense capabilities and carefully manage the risks created by the evolving geopolitical landscape.

“Everyone should recognize that we are living in the middle of a global war,” he said.

“We must take our precautions accordingly.”

Source: DHA, Anadolu Agency

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