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Albert Einstein once said that he did not know what weapons World War 3 would be fought with, but he did know that World War 4 would be fought with sticks and stones. This is one of the most brilliant human beings to ever live, suggesting that the potential consequences of another war with our advanced technological capabilities will result in a hard reset on humanity.
With the existence of nuclear weapons, almost no place is safe at all. The use of multiple megaton or near-megaton bombs will create a nuclear winter that would affect every single country in the world. However, it is undeniable that some places are safer than others for various reasons. Let’s go through each one.
Why Geography Matters
One of the most effective defenses of any country in the world in the event that World War 3 happens is its natural geography. Where they are located and how their natural surroundings could protect the population is actually the highest factor that experts predict will help humans survive.
This could mean that they are far from potential war hot spots and major conflict zones, along with the supply lines of any army, navy, or air force, by being an island nation or a remote location. It could also be their mountains and seas naturally shielding them from any potential invasion or shockwaves from explosions.
Considering all of these descriptions, the safest geography on Earth would be countries that possess most, if not all, of those qualities, so think of places like Iceland, New Zealand, and Chile.
Read more: Metro
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Political Neutrality Counts
Another important factor is a country’s political alignment. Neutral nations tend to suffer fewer direct consequences of any war, but they still face the global effects, in this case, the threat of a nuclear winter and food supply chain collapse.
A great example of this is Switzerland, which completely avoided World War 1 and 2 by maintaining its neutrality. They also have a good geography in terms of their mountainous regions acting as a natural self-defense mechanism that makes any invasion hard or almost impossible.
Some more examples of politically neutral countries that might be able to avoid a World War are Uruguay, Costa Rica, and some other Latin American countries. Since these nations do not participate in military alliances, Costa Rica does not even have an army, and has shown a high commitment to neutrality, experts say that they are a good bet to be safer.
Self-Sufficiency Is Key

Now, surviving the explosions and direct fights is only the beginning. When a World War happens to the same levels that Albert Einstein predicted, it is important to realize that the global food supply chain will probably break down. That means being safe also should include being self-sufficient as a country.
So, countries with a strong agricultural economy that will allow them to completely feed their population are a good choice, along with places that could sustain their own energy consumption. Examples of these nations would be Norway, Argentina, Iceland, and Fiji.
Read more: Euro Weekly News
Caveats and Civil Defense

One caveat to these places is that the country with the strongest military and economy could still be safer for a whole different set of reasons. Like having more defenses, nuclear bunkers, and food reserves.
So, some places in North America and Europe could be a viable choice, but with a nuclear threat, those countries would be heavily affected, thus making them less safe than the ones mentioned above, despite having higher capabilities of civil defense.
In other words, this section just highlights that it is not all about location but also a country’s preparedness, infrastructure, and commitment to protecting its citizens.
Author's Final Thoughts
When the world starts another war, the consequences will be far greater than any other conflicts that we have had in human history. The threat of nuclear explosions is why Albert Einstein predicted that the next war would be fought with sticks and stones.
In other words, the war before it will be so devastating that it will set humans thousands of years back, effectively ending civilizations. However, even if the chances of survival would be dim, it is not 0, especially with the existence of places that are neutral and naturally or geographically protected.
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