If so, here are five foci of risk, where this can happen.

Nilas Vent, a journalist for the Aftonbladet newspaper, lists these five places, citing compelling arguments from experts for and against the possible occurrence of military conflicts.

North Korea

States: North Korea, USA, Japan, China.

North Korea conducts test explosions of nuclear weapons and constantly develops new missiles. One of the newest missiles that experienced this summer, is capable of striking the US, but it is unclear whether North Korea can equip it with a nuclear warhead.

North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un and US President Donald Trump exchanged hateful verbal provocations, and Trump, among other things, promised to meet North Korea with "fire and fury."

The US is in alliance with South Korea and Japan, which also feel threatened by North Korea. And this closed dictatorship, in turn, receives support from China.

"In the short term, the most problematic zone is the Korean peninsula," says Niklas Svanström, head of the Institute for Security Policy and Development.

"At the same time, the likelihood that China will defend North Korea is very small. This will happen only if there is a threat to the direct interests of China, that is, if the US leads troops to the Chinese borders or something like that. "

Isak Svensson, Professor of Peace and Conflict Studies at Uppsala University, agrees that Korea is the most worrisome, as the situation there is unpredictable. "It's not very likely, but it's possible that something will happen there. All in suspense, there are various exercises and demonstration of strength to each other, there is a big risk that something will go wrong. It can start the process, even if in fact no one will want it. No one is interested in bringing the matter to full scale war, but there is still a risk, "he said.

South China Sea

States: the United States, China, Taiwan, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei.

This is one of the most serious foci of tension, according to Isak Svensson. "There's an incredibly great military potential. The probability that something will happen is small, but if this happens, the consequences will be catastrophic. There are nuclear weapons there, and alliances are concluded between different countries, so that they can drag each other into all sorts of complications of relations. "

At first glance, the conflict unfolds around hundreds of small islands and reefs near China, Vietnam, Malaysia and the Philippines. Approximately half of the islands are under the control of any of the four countries.

China, and Taiwan and Vietnam claim the entire Spratly archipelago, the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei also have their claims.

In early 2014, China began to clear seven reefs between the islands under its control and lay bases on them.

The situation is marked by the ever-growing tension between China and the US, as the growing Chinese state increasingly challenges the United States as the world's only superpower.

"This relationship will be influenced by the relationship between the US and China," says Niklas Granholm, research director at the Total Defense Institute, FOI.

"The international system is shifting power and means of influence. In relative terms, China's power is growing, and US power is decreasing. It is the conflicts that can arise around this division of power that will become the most important. This may be China's position regarding Taiwan, China regarding Japan, relations with North Korea. There's a lot that can make a difference, "adds Niklas Granholm.

Niklas Svanström also believes that the relationship between China and the United States is the most dangerous in the long term. "The only version of the third world war that one can imagine is obviously includes China and the United States. I can not say that it worries me, in my opinion, there can be mediated conflicts, that is, the war will be waged in a third country, "says Niklas Svanström.

India - Pakistan

States: India, Pakistan, USA, China, Russia.

The disputed northern province of Kashmir is in practice divided between India and Pakistan. There have been several wars between countries for the right to this area, and new conflicts are constantly breaking out.

After 18 Indian soldiers were killed in a terrorist attack at a military base in September 2016, the Indian Interior Minister wrote on Twitter:

"Pakistan is a terrorist state, which should be called and isolated."

Pakistan vehemently denied any involvement in the incident.

"Relations between India and Pakistan are always troublesome. Right now it does not seem that there will be a strong escalation, but nothing points to any great progress towards their rapprochement in the future, "says Isak Svensson.

Both countries are nuclear powers, and each, presumably, has more than 100 nuclear warheads.

"It's easy to imagine an unintentional escalation right up to a full-fledged nuclear war that nobody needs, but it can be provoked by