To wonder if anyone has or is considering moving to a country that's less likely to be involved if Putin attacks a NATO country. (title edited by MNHQ at request of OP)

Carla786 · 2026-01-17T00:02:59+00:00

I hope that if WW3 happened, I'd be brave enough to stay and fight. I love Britain & I'd hate to leave it or see it invaded by Putin. However, at the same time I'm wondering about the recent rush of articles suggesting conflict with Russia is inevitable by around 2030 and that civilians need to prepare to be conscripted to fight if NATO is attacked. I'd always thought Britain being land-invaded was fairly unlikely, but being called up to fight in a NATO war widens the options of what might happen. Countries that are less likely to be involved include Austria, Switzerland, New Zealand, Republic of Ireland. I don't particularly want to move to any of these. If call-ups are likely to be imminent in about 4 years, I don't know.. The country I've always thought I'd move to if I did move is Poland (where I have family ties)- but of course that's far more likely to be involved in a potential war!

Tikitaka20 · 22/01/2026 18:23

ScrambledEggs12 · 22/01/2026 18:05

I have a son, I hadn't thought to be worried. Not going to start worrying now. What is worrying going to achieve?!

Precisely nothing.

ScrambledEggs12 · 22/01/2026 18:05

I have a son, I hadn't thought to be worried. Not going to start worrying now. What is worrying going to achieve?!

Tikitaka20 · 22/01/2026 17:56

BMW6 · 22/01/2026 13:37

Yes I'd be amazed if OP fits their requirements!

She might if she focuses on her degree instead of posting on here!

MrsTerryPratchett · 22/01/2026 14:20

Quine0nline · 22/01/2026 13:55

I don't see Putin or Trump with designs on Usbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Kurdistan etc.

They were all in the USSR. Turkmenistan has massive natural gas reserves and the people are very much part of the sphere of influence. They would be an afterthought possibly. But not safe in any way.

Quine0nline · 22/01/2026 13:55

I don't see Putin or Trump with designs on Usbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Kurdistan etc.

BMW6 · 22/01/2026 13:37

Yes I'd be amazed if OP fits their requirements!

GaIadriel · 20/01/2026 04:12

It's really hard to move to NZ though apparently.

Original poster

Carla786 · 20/01/2026 04:04

DLAtoPIP · 19/01/2026 13:36

Doesn’t Nz have natural resources though? Might not be that safe after all. How long till Trump decided he needs NZ too !

Who knows, at this point!

NZ at least doesn't have the strategic position Greenland does.

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Original poster

Carla786 · 19/01/2026 14:36

Hazlenuts2016 · 19/01/2026 07:06

@Carla786 it's good to keep an eye on the news and I am also anxious as I have a son who is 15 and could be conscripted. However, for your own sanity stay away from the daily mail and try and listen to more balanced/ credible sources with less of an agenda. The BBC and Guardian for example can be biased and scaremonger but nothing like on the scale of the tabloids.

I've linked to other sources though. The Daily Mail article was quoting a UK military figure who spoke to other papers too, not just tabloids.

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Original poster

Carla786 · 19/01/2026 14:35

BrieAndChilli · 19/01/2026 11:44

I do wonder if all the media about conscription and getting ready for war is less about telling us, the citizens and more about letting the enemy know that we are getting prepared and wont be an easy target?

I just cant see how they will round up the young adults, and equip them with guns with little training and send them off! It is much less hand to hand combat than WW2 - more about missiles etc.

It does terrify me as I have 15, 17 and 19 year olds.

I think it is partly a deterrent tactic, yes. Bit otoh it does seem that human power is still relied on substantially. The idea of training now is probably so civilians can be ready for a call-up if it does need to happen in a few years.

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DLAtoPIP · 19/01/2026 13:36

Doesn’t Nz have natural resources though? Might not be that safe after all. How long till Trump decided he needs NZ too !

DangerousAlchemy · 19/01/2026 12:09

SevenYellowHammers · 17/01/2026 01:14

Stopped reading this at the words “Daily Mail”.

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God me too!

BrieAndChilli · 19/01/2026 11:44

I do wonder if all the media about conscription and getting ready for war is less about telling us, the citizens and more about letting the enemy know that we are getting prepared and wont be an easy target?

I just cant see how they will round up the young adults, and equip them with guns with little training and send them off! It is much less hand to hand combat than WW2 - more about missiles etc.

It does terrify me as I have 15, 17 and 19 year olds.

Tadpolesinponds · 19/01/2026 11:20

Carla786 · 19/01/2026 01:16

Of course I will do that. This can't be done all at once, I'll do a bit as and when possible for the next few months.

As I say, an invasion seems unlikely for the next 2 or 3 years, hopefully.

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I think you'll find that it probably can be researched much more quickly than that. Don't underestimate how small New Zealand is and how many other people would like to live there.

EligibleTern · 19/01/2026 08:44

MangaKanga · 18/01/2026 19:47

I agree.

There is an incredibly stupid man loose in the world who in the fact few weeks swooped in, murdered guards and abducted the president of another country.

He also announced plans to annex a large territory which has never belonged his country and which has no linguistic or historical connection with it (unlike Russia and the Donbas).

He has also had armed troops on the streets brutally suppressing his own citizens
.. protest, and you get shot multiple times in the head like Renee Nicole Good.

He also has a well-equipped army, a large budget to be diverted from things like education and vaccines for babies to the army, and a wildly erratic personality disorder of some kind.

People should be worried because there is a giant fucking baby with his finger on the button that makes the missiles fly.

And people are still fixated on the evil Rooskies.

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I am also much more worried about Trump than Putin, although neither of them is great.

Hazlenuts2016 · 19/01/2026 07:06

@Carla786 it's good to keep an eye on the news and I am also anxious as I have a son who is 15 and could be conscripted. However, for your own sanity stay away from the daily mail and try and listen to more balanced/ credible sources with less of an agenda. The BBC and Guardian for example can be biased and scaremonger but nothing like on the scale of the tabloids.

Tikitaka20 · 19/01/2026 01:24

Also, I mean this kindly, but by far the the kindest thing you can do to yourself now and over the next few years is to focus as much as possible on your own prospects and future: your degree and your career.

You’re clearly very worried about the future and whether the U.K. will be in a war soon, but that is fully out of your control.

Also, Putin might be dead in a few years! He’s 73 now, so he may not have long left.

I’m not naive - I know plenty of people live well into their eighties and nineties, and beyond, especially with the wealth he has, but he is mortal, and he will have to die one day.

That’s not to say that his death will resolve everything. Of course it won’t - it may make things worse. And he has caused a huge amount of destruction and suffering. But no regime lasts forever, and hopefully that’s a small source of comfort.

Original poster

Carla786 · 19/01/2026 01:16

BMW6 · 19/01/2026 01:10

Well have you researched whether NZ would want you for starters?

Of course I will do that. This can't be done all at once, I'll do a bit as and when possible for the next few months.

As I say, an invasion seems unlikely for the next 2 or 3 years, hopefully.

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Tikitaka20 · 19/01/2026 01:14

Carla786 · 19/01/2026 00:29

Where I live is in my control.

I agree anxiety in itself is not good, but that's not the same as assessing the situation and
making practical plans according to one's assessment.

Probably not likely to happen soon - hopefully not. But the whole situation is pretty unpredictable and the top government figures & army people I've quoted from the UK & other European countries DO seem quite worried. This can be exaggerated or mistaken of course, but just because they has been the case in places like Iraq doesn't mean it necessarily is this time.

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I totally agree that where you live is in your control.

But as you say, the whole geopolitical situation is unpredictable. So I’m wondering how you/we can assess the situation when it’s so changeable - and how worthwhile it is to do that.

How can you/we make a practical plan if we have very little idea about Putin’s plans? All we know is he will continue attacking Ukraine until he has colonised it fully. And if that plan is successful, he may do the same to other countries.

I’m wondering why you’re thinking about radically changing your life to avoid a potential Russian attack when there’s little clear evidence that will happen?

I just don’t think war gaming a move to a distant country that may or may not also be invaded by Putin makes sense - have you thought about where you will live in that country, how you will earn money etc?

As an example, I live in London, and neither me, nor my friends or family here have been talking about Putin attacking the U.K./London and any plans to move country to avoid an attack.

BMW6 · 19/01/2026 01:10

Well have you researched whether NZ would want you for starters?

Original poster

Carla786 · 19/01/2026 00:29

Tikitaka20 · 18/01/2026 11:04

Maybe it’s best to just keep as calm as you can and live your life as best as you can, as you can’t control any of this stuff.

I mean this kindly, but you seem pretty anxious over something that’s completely out of your control and probably not likely to happen soon, for all the reasons discussed here. It might be helpful to get therapy to help manage that anxiety.

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Where I live is in my control.

I agree anxiety in itself is not good, but that's not the same as assessing the situation and
making practical plans according to one's assessment.

Probably not likely to happen soon - hopefully not. But the whole situation is pretty unpredictable and the top government figures & army people I've quoted from the UK & other European countries DO seem quite worried. This can be exaggerated or mistaken of course, but just because they has been the case in places like Iraq doesn't mean it necessarily is this time.

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Original poster

Carla786 · 19/01/2026 00:24

BMW6 · 18/01/2026 12:42

I know! Completely laughable that some people cannot imagine that every country will shut down airports, close every port and border and would post armed guards to stop anyone entering! There won't be any way to leave your country apart from walking - all roads would be jammed, no petrol to be had.

How far can you walk carrying everything you need? What will you drink and eat?

The OP seems to think that if it looks like conflict is imminent she can set off for the airport and catch the next flight to NZ - and she'll be the only one doing so!! 😂

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I've said that this is a plan for well in advance. I know that moving once conflict is obviously imminent will not work.

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Original poster

Carla786 · 19/01/2026 00:23

ChurchWindows · 18/01/2026 11:10

OPs gone very quiet.

It's Sunday lunchtime in Russia.

🤣 I have stuff to do, and I don't like to check in too much in the day as I think it's bad for concentration.

I am very grateful for all the replies.

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Original poster

Carla786 · 19/01/2026 00:22

EligibleTern · 18/01/2026 13:20

But there's a big conceptual difference between "If it's going to happen, there's nothing any of us can do so why worry" and "People have been saying this for decades and things have been fine, I'm just focusing on my family, nothing happened when everyone was so worried during the Cold War" etc like change is pretty much impossible, as though the last few decades of relative stability are for some undefined reason now set in stone as what life is like (at least for us in the west). And acting as though that blinkered view is the basic, common sense truth. It's just annoying, that's all.

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I agree.

And obviously there are things one can do besides move. As pp mentioned, purified water tablets etc. After all, civil war is another possibility of what could happen. Or more likely, maybe, an attack on the UK short of full-scale invasion, maybe with cyber or chemical attacks

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Carla786 · 19/01/2026 00:18

Bikergran · 18/01/2026 08:03

Then you should have the sense to look at a map and see that with modern armaments nowhere is "safe", we live on a very small planet. It's not a question of being some kind of brave superhero, in times of war, ordinary people just have to do the best they can, in any way they can.

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You mean ICBMs and nuclear bombs? I agree the whole world is unsafe due to stuff like that, to some degree.

Otoh some place are clearly bigger targets than others. Any European country, for instance, would be more likely to be dragged into a Putin-NATO conflict, for instance.

Agree re ordinary people doing their best..

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