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]

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!

Hopefully they will not. The Ukranians are very brave but we cannot be that sure they will win. Russia has huge manpower, for a start.

I agree surely many Russians do not want this situation. A successor of Putin may still be warlike and not leave them much choice though.

Putin himself is only 72 and does not appear to be in poor health, unfortunately!

If war with Russia & a NATO country breaks out, it's been said that conscription might happen because our army is very short-handed.

I agree with this : my grandmother was a teacher during the Cuban Missile Crisis. She remembers the girls in her class being scared but she herself thought it was doubtful anything would happen & didn't get very worried.

However, we know in hindsight it could easily have gone a different way. I get your points re Serbia, Cyprus etc but those wars were terrible but local. Putin feels more Cold War-scale in threat level because war with him could engulf Europe rather than being contained in one country.

I agree with this but it's also concern about being called up to a NATO conflict in another part of Europe. I agree Putin invading UK is unlikely & would not be his first aim, anyway.

Thank you. I'm not planning to pack my bags now or anything 🤣, but I do think it's important to be aware of what might happen. Of course, it wasn't long ago that LSE professor David Betz was in news headings & podcasts talking about imminent UK civil war! Who knows what would come first? If any...

Your ideas sound good. Could come in useful for many scenarios.

I've seen plenty of posts on here & elsewhere about relocating for other reasons, people saying the UK is finished even. That's not what I think at all, but I do think it's perfectly reasonable to discuss potential relocation on here, especially over something as big as a potential war...!

Exactly. That's why I'm thinking now that places like NZ & Uruguay are probably the best options. Places like ROI & Iceland are not directly in Europe but placed to potentially be drawn in.

One can lead a normal life here & still be concerned about military situation. As pp said, European leaders & our military are warning about this.

Come on, assessing the prospect of potential war & wondering if a move to a safer country is wise is a perfectly rational thing to do.

Different situation to lockdown where Covid was a global problem that could not be escaped by moving - so that's a false comparison. Thinking about what to do during a pandemic during the waiting period would have been quite rational though.

Much better to get on with real life, try to take real world action to improve things - how is moving to a safer place not a 'real world action'?

That's a good point. If Putin were attacking Poland or Estonia etc Ireland might not get involved but if it escalated further they might well do.

Why do you say that?

It's crazy, isn't it? It seems most Republicans agree and will probably oppose so surely he will not go through with it??

Yes but there are countries who are less and more likely to be involved in one.

Yes but clearly countries in Europe etc are far more likely to be attacked in a war to regain Russian empire territory

I agree strongly.

However, it's nor just an issue of Britain being bombed. If Putin invades a NATO country, civilians may be conscripted because our army is very low on numbers.

Switzerland would probably not be involved but I think NZ and some of South America are probably safer. Specifically Uruguay.

I've seen that poster on other threads and they tend to be quite direct & sometimes aggressive.

I respect Hoardassauras' past as a military brat and she's brave to hold that position. But there's not a black & white line between 'would fight for country' and 'total coward' as you say.

Good point...

I think it would be fun to set up a squirrel assault course to a feeder. As well as being hours of fun for all the family, it would produce battle ready squirrels, to help fight off the invasion.

WW3 was hyperbole which I have since altered. ...I was thinking more about if Putin attacks NATO country it seems Brit civilians may be called up as our army is low on numbers.

Missiles are a worrying point..

https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/putins-unstoppable-nuke-missile-could-hit-london-minutes-belarus-1766993

Good point. Hopefully we are not in war territory for a few years yet, at least!

My mother has wanted to move herself, not due to war though. We'll think this over together.

Tbh I'd be probably be prepared to serve for my country. I'm young enough and have skills that would help. I can drive trucks, operate heavy machinery used in excavation etc, and have been working in the concrete sector for the past five years - could potentially assist in building military bases etc.

I'd likely end up in the logistics core though as truck drivers are already short in supply. I've worked with a fair few drivers that used to drive for the military - some in the anti-IED vehicles and some in more traditional logistics. My sister and cousin are both quite senior in the MOD so I'm not completely unfamiliar with it all.

This isn't some oil grab in the middle east. It'd be defending an ally who has pledged to do the same for us. You can be sure that in the unlikely event the UK was invaded by a more powerful country people wouldn't be happy with our supposed allies doing a runner.

I am a uni student, don't have kids yet though I want to. Men my age are first in line to be conscripted. Women in general are third in line. Single people without kids are second in line.

It's unclear if women would be drafted into combat roles - probably? Not sure. Women ofc do fight on front line now.
https://www.thelondoneconomic.com/news/groups-most-likely-to-be-drafted-in-ww3-conscription-uk-402000/

Diplomacy may not be able to stop Putin doing what it's clear he wants to do : regain former USSR territories.

I'm female & uni age.

I don't think a country in Europe is a good idea, agreed on this.

Nonsense? So the UK army, German, French etc leaders I've linked to are just worrying over nothing?

Putin will be 76 in 2030- why would he necessarily be dead?

This. Russia isn't going to invade the UK. There is a current drive to spend more on defence and a threat has to be touted in order for the public to allow it.