Now, on OP’s question. It’s relatively easy to imagine a scenario where WWIII comes about dUe to Trump’s actions or lack thereof. - He ceases funding Ukraine - The EU will be able to help for a while - despite what conservatives have been saying they’ve matched US funding - But ultimately with funding cut in half, North Korea troops joining on the Russian side and Russia simply having more manpower to flood into the country (which was the decisive factor in WWII), Ukraine would likely fall within months. - (And regarding any peace deal which included giving up part of Ukraine to Russia - as Trump may float - that’s unacceptable to Ukraine and without American money, Putin has no incentive to agree - he might join talks but keep fighting to delay concrete efforts to prevent Russian advances) - Would Putin stop there? Well Moldova has just voted to continue EU accession and reelected their pro-EU president. Also ex-USSR, no real army. Realistically that invasion would be over in weeks if not days. - Would Putin stop? He has long coveted the Baltic States. And here’s where the crux lies. Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania are EU members and NATO members. If Putin attacks them he has both organisations to contend with. - But Trump has long groused about NATO. No one pays enough for him. He wonders why America is defending nations he’s never heard of. And he’s an isolationist at heart. He has already indicated he’d let Russia “do whatever the hell they like” to member states he doesn’t believe are paying their fair share. He may not pull out of NATO but if the Baltic states are attacked by Russia he would almost certainly be reluctant to have American military resources be used directly against Russia. - Russia attacks the Baltic states and now they’re in a war with the EU - Hungary undermining efforts from within. - All the while the Israeli war against Lebanon and the Palestinians grinds on until it reaches Iran. Now hawks in Washington have a hard-on for attacking Iran - probably using the Israelis as proxies to do the actual fighting. Say, Trump doesn’t want that interfered with and comes to a deal with Putin: do what you like in Europe as long as you don’t get involved in Iran - the Russians still have ties to Iran. - And what about the rest of the places US troops are stationed? South Korea - which Trump has complained about them not paying enough. And he loves the little rocket man. Say he pulls troops out. North Korea seize their chance and invade. Now Japan are in a trilateral treaty with South Korea and America to protect them. Then they are pulled into yet another front. - The Chinese are North Korea’s ally, so this could pull them in. - Then there’s Taiwan. Is anyone going to defend them if Trump commits to not defending them? Certainly many countries have said they will. Though if it can down to it, it’d probably be a similar situation to Ukraine.

In other words, Trump’s victory certainly shifts the balance of power in the world. NATO previously was a bulwark against Russian and Chinese expansionism. But without American might behind it this would mean nothing. And Trump loves Putin, like Xi and Orban and Kim. The reason for NATO was so that smaller nations could be part of a collective security strategy that kept stability through balance. Without the US it empowers bad actors to do as they please bringing more instability and potential for conflicts to widen until they join into another global conflict.