From Israel’s skirmishes with several countries and armed groups in the Middle East, continuing war in Ukraine, India and nuclear-armed Pakistan exchanging strikes earlier this year, and China continuing to rehearse a potential invasion of Taiwan, it is no surprise that some people are planning for the worst. But some have taken that to an extreme degree, going as far as to examine which countries would be the safest, should a world war break out. There are several countries worth considering in any escape plan should Britain be dragged into a conflict – and the Express has taken a look at them.
Lining much of the Pacific coast of South America, Chile is far removed from the likely major WW3 conflict zones.
What’s more, it’s one of the most economically developed states in South America and has a strong relationship with both the UK and the US.
Santiago, the country’s capital, is a city of over five million people and is used to welcoming visitors from around the world. The bustling metropolis doesn’t feel far removed from any other Western city.
Given its long coastline – the longest in the world, in fact – Chile’s natural resources are many, so the country is well-placed to sustain itself in the event of a far-reaching war.
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One of the few European nations that would likely be safe to move to, Iceland benefits from similar isolation as most of the other countries on our list. That said, it’s by no means the most remote nation we’ve included.
Iceland is about 500 miles to the northwest of Scotland, about 590 miles to the west of Norway, and around 170 miles east of Greenland.
It’s a small country, with a population of around 380,000 as of 2022. Its access to renewable energy and natural resources makes it a very good option to flee to in the event of WW3.
But bring a coat, it only gets to about 14C maximum in the summer and sinks to between -10C and -25C in the winter.
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New Zealand has become something of a by-word for safe haven in recent years. Silicon Valley billionaire Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, told the New Yorker in 2016 that he had an agreement with Peter Thiel, co-founder of PayPal, that in the event of some kind of apocalyptic episode they would both charter a private jet to Thiel’s 477-acre property on New Zealand’s South Island.
It’s easy to understand the appeal of New Zealand for those seeking security in an unstable and insecure world. The country is 932 miles from Australia, which itself is pretty remote, and yet New Zealand is economically developed.
The impressive urban centres and plentiful natural resources makes New Zealand an obvious choice for nuclear boltholes for the world’s super rich.
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Like New Zealand, the Pacific Island of Fiji is an attractive option for those seeking to flee conflict due to it being remote, really remote.
At around 1,300 miles north of New Zealand, the Fijian archipelago – which comprises over 100 inhabited islands – should be well isolated in the event of WW3.
However, unlike New Zealand, Fiji is not as big or economically developed. The country’s population is around 900,000 and its biggest city, Suva, is home to only around 90,000 people.
That said, the country does have several urban settlements, as well as traditional villages, and access to natural resources. Plus, as a former British colony, Fiji has close ties to the UK.
(Image: Getty)