Every time a significant geopolitical event happens, my inbox gets filled with people asking me if this is World War 3. My answer is usually always “No” because the way the world order was situated in WW1 and 2, the modern world looks nothing like it. What you do have though, is something we’re in right now!
Due to the world being so interconnected, modern wars involve so many more characters than old ones. When planning a modern war, you now have an extra aspect to consider: “How are you going to win the internet war?” Yes, those guys sitting on their couches kind of matter.