I'm getting a little more concerned about this at some point going nuclear. It could happen in a heartbeat. Or we could see all sorts of old and new crazy weapons put to use, including chemical, biological, microwave... you name it. Cyber attacks will likely be the first to go full scale, and that might be all it takes to take everything off line, or worse.

The thing that makes me doubt a WW3 is that those in power, who have shown through Covid that they'll do anything to maintain/increase that power, run the risk of having it all come tumbling down in a war.

Unless, it's as you mentioned before: a limited, tactical nuclear war in designated regions - including a gentleman's agreement that we don't newk each other's safe-zones.