This scenario is actually inspired by the interpretations of various quatrains of Nostradamus, the French astrologer and psychic from the 1500’s who has a famous yet controversial reputation for his doomsday style predictions, together with that of Baba Vanga from Macedonia, for predicting many historical events, wars and catastrophes. Nostradamus’s predictions are said to be so far, 2/3 correct. You can find this interpretation here:
http://home.nvg.org/~aga/stories/nostra.html
Since here at Warfare Study we are always dabbling in plausible hypotheticals based on the data and current events of our time, we try to see and project up to 100 years into the future of the potential outbreak of war between what nations, over what reason, and with what potential moves can be undertaken, given a specific number of logical possibilities in our finite world, especially when there’s a scenario between two nations or alliances that reduce the number of logical possibilities and create a realistic or possible picture of the future.
In this case, we are using examples from Mike Brown’s interpretation of Nostradamus and predictions of World War 3, written in his book the Prophecies of Nostradamus in 1981. Nostradamus’s own original quatrains are very cryptic and somewhat vague nature, and to attribute concise and relevant meaning to them can be difficult due to their vagueness. Nevertheless, it still dumbs down to a few logical possibilities per quatrain given data about our world that we already have. In Mike Brown’s interpretation, when the book was written, the USSR was still alive, Albania was still a Communist country allied with China, and European countries like France and the UK were still considered among the strongest on the planet, now 40 years later dwarfed by the rise of countries such as China and India. To think that there would be a Franco-Chinese war in 2021, in which the French stood a fighting chance is both geographically illogical and ridiculous from a perspective from each country’s capacity for having a war economy. It still could be possible, but the focus might be shifted on stronger countries as opposed to European ones.
Right now, the way things stand in the 2020’s, the most likely alliance is between that of NATO and it’s non-NATO allies, and that of the SCO and it’s non-SCO allies. This means any combination of NATO including South Korea, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Australia and others, vs. that of Russia, China, India, Pakistan, Syria, Iran, North Korea and so forth.
Whether other countries will get involved and to what extent is another issue entirely, that is more difficult to predict, in terms of sides. Rest assured, it would make sense for Brazil to join NATO, or for many sub-Saharan countries to join China. The problem with a current alliance between China and the Arabs is the question of Uyghurs and how they are portrayed in the Western and Muslim media. If the allegations are true, the Arabs have a reason to change their foreign policy against China to a more hostile ones, given that Muslim countries often have a religious obligation to stick together (as is the case of foreign fighters and the Mujahedeen), despite their historical tendency for brutal infighting.
Some of these have already come to fruition. They are also not in exact order, nor does it say they will happen in a short period of time. Remember, Nostradamus lived in the first half of the 1500’s, which was over 500 years ago. Many things have happened since then, and some of his predictions are yet to come true, meaning they might not happen for another 500 years.
(1) Communism in Russia will decline, beginning in the Ukraine as a
result of trade differences with the West. This will occur
around Easter.
For this one, it has already happened. The USSR did decline as a result of trade differences with the West. You could say that the US opening up trade with China directly contributed to the USSR’s decline. It did begin in Ukraine, which is historically the biggest thorn in Russia’s side, out of all nations within it’s historical empires or spheres of influence, as it is the largest nation after Russia. And much of the declarations of independence did in fact occur around Easter, as well as the the secessions, all which happened began around the beginning of Spring.
(2) The United States and Russia will become better friends.
This already happened, despite their differences, the US and Russia were and are much better friends post USSR than they were during the Cold War.
(3) A great power will unify the Far East with negotiation and
pressure.
This is either currently in the process of happening or has yet to happen. When we think of negotiation and pressure, we think of how in 2021 the Chinese government approaches negotiations with other countries, especially over economic matters. In the Western media, they have dubbed it “debt colonialism”. Alternatively, it could mean the SCO, but the pressure is yet to mount. It could also mean ASEAN, but the chances of this are less, as there is no pressure, and it does not encompass the majority of the Far East. And yet, countries like Japan and South Korea are still independent from China’s sphere of influence, of “negotiation and pressure”.
(4) This power will disrupt peace attempts, and the Middle and Far
Easterners will attempt to settle their differences with force.
This is either already happening or is beginning to happen with the Uyghurs, and there is yet to be a response from Muslim nations. For this to happen, there needs to be a unification of both geographical regions of “Middle East” and “Far East” into empires or unified nation states. This makes sense chronologically, because China has been cracking down on Islamic fundamentalists as well, and has joined the War on Terror on the side of the US and Russia. But it would make sense that they fight before unifying, the way things are going right now with the condemnation for the treatment of Uyghurs.
(5) A meteor will strike the center of the Indian Ocean, causing
tidal waves that will heavily damage the surrounding lands.
This has yet to happen. Alternatively, it could mean the tsunami of 2004, but we will stick with the premise of a meteor strike causing a tsunami for relevance sake, and to not be accused of stoking the logic of conspiracy theorists and Dan Brown novel style unfolding of cryptic secrets.
(6) A powerful dictator will dominate the Middle East. He will
tyrranize Syria, Iraq, and Jordan. [Maybe Khomeini?]
This has either yet to happen or is currently happening. Iran is currently involved in much over there, and we know their influence in Syria and Iraq. Alternatively, it could mean the US, through their invasion of Iraq, they were able to cause instability in the region. Ultimately, it might mean ISIS, as it was able to take over half of Syria and half of Iraq before the Russian military intervention wiped out 90 percent of their forces. It might also mean Saddam Hussein, but he was never involved in any operations into Syria or Jordan, even though there was an incursion into Kuwait that involved a good number of Arab countries, especially Saudi Arabia, one way or another.
(7) On August 2nd, 1987 he will attack Iran, Turkey, and Egypt with
an army of nearly a million men. [This date was reached by
astronomy; the astronomical event only occurs on that day.]
This most likely refers to the Iran-Iraq War, in which Saddam Hussein’s forces had 1.5 million men by 1988, and possibly over a million in 1987. The problem with this theory is that even though they attacked Iran, they did not attack Turkey and Egypt, so it’s possible it’s yet to happen, and could happen instead, on say, August 2, 2087, which is about the time many of these countries populations would’ve doubled and they would muster enough strength to be able to attack nations like Turkey, Iran and Egypt simultaneously. Right now not even the US can attack all 3 of these simultaneously without the possibility of losing, and a million men will definitely not be enough.
(8) Arab forces in Tunisia and Algeria and north-Moroccan guerillas
will invade Morocco's pro-Western monarchy and overthrow its
king.
Mohammed VI is currently the King of Morocco, since 1999. It’s possible this could happen, but for this to happen, Arab forces in Tunisia and Algeria need to be pro Eastern or at least pro Arab. Both countries currently show pro Western politics, even if Algeria overthrew it’s French slave masters. It might mean the Mohammed VI’s son, whom is currently 17 years old. While Mohammed VI’s is in his 60’s right now, we have yet to see the politics of his son, which might change the same way the politics of Cuba changed when Fidel Castro died.
(9) Israel will be defeated by the Arabs, with her airforce
destroyed.
This has yet to happen, as all wars between the Arabs and Israel between World War 2 and now have resulted with the Israelis destroying the air forces of the Arabs, and not the other way around.
(10) A Libyan leader will create much tension in Europe. [Definitely
Khadaffi.]
This has already happened with Gaddhafi, but much tension is something I wouldn’t use. So who knows, if this interpretation means that Europe is invaded by North African Arabs, then it might not have happened yet and there will be another leader like Gaddhafi reigning in Libya?
(11) A "red one" [a Cardinal of the Roman Church or maybe a TWA jet]
will be taken by Arab terrorists at sea.
This has not happened yet. A red one could also mean either the Chinese or Russians.
(12) The Arabs will try to unify more of Africa by overthrowing
pro-Western governments. The Oriental leader will do the same.
This might have happened already with the Arab Spring of 2011, which was actually the work of the Russians. But it might yet be to happen, and China is yet to get involved in it.
(13) Arab armies will threaten central & southern Africa into
alliances favorable to the Middle-East.
This has also yet to happen. Right now the Arabs are not strong or unified enough to meddle in Central and South Africa, but the Chinese are.