The Petro Wars

The Petro Wars, also known by some as the "Hydropetro Wars" or "World War 3", was a global conflict that lasted for almost 30 years. It was one of the bloodiest land wars ever fought. This was partly due to the immense scientific progress made in the 21st century.

Background

Since the 2050s, natural resources like crude oil and natural gas have been in short supply. Progress in alternatives was steady but too slow to keep up with the ever-growing population and demand for plastic and petroleum. Even the nations with previously ample supplies of these resources started to ration them by the early 2060s. Another resource fought over was water, which has gotten increasingly valuable with the decline of glaciers and pollution of freshwater supplies.
Tensions arose slowly, but steadily throughout the 21st century, which saw a surge of totalitarian governments, especially in Africa, Western Asia and South America. Even remnants of the cold war came into play when the old rivalry between the Russian Federation (The Slavic Union after 2033) and the United States of America reignited over their influence in western Asia.
During the Slavic Wars between 2032 and 2035, Russia invaded and annexed multiple former USSR countries, including Ukraine, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan and transformed its government into a military dictatorship. The European Union and the United Kingdom supplied the countries which were being invaded with weapons and humanitarian aid but ultimately failed to stop the advance of the Russian military. The lack of intervention was mainly due to European dependency on natural resources from Russia.
Similarly, the People's Republic of China invaded Taiwan in 2037. The United States of America, Taiwan's main ally at the time, refrained from intervening, fearing an outbreak of another global war.
Facing an increasing shortage of natural resources and an increasing military threat from the east, the European Union reformed into the European Confederation in 2041, forming a democratic superstate. Between 2041 and 2047, other countries joined the superstate, including the United Kingdom, Iceland and the rest of the Balkans. Only Switzerland and Norway refrained from joining, although they maintained strong economic and diplomatic alliances.
Saudi Arabia, one of the largest exporters of crude oil, saw an insurgency of Muslim extremists in 2057. A 7-year-long civil war broke out between the ruling theocratic monarchy, led by King Mohammad bin Salman, and the insurgency. The latter one was believed to have been backed by wealthy oil barons, which wished to establish a plutocratic state with oil billionaires as a leadership. The insurgency ultimately failed when King Salman received aid from the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Yemen and Egypt, which supported the Sunni theocracy of Saudi Arabia. The insurgent leaders and their supporters were ruthlessly prosecuted. Over 800 people are put to death. A year later, the Sunni Brotherhood was established, which saw the countries of Saudi Arabia, Oman, Yemen, the UAE, Qatar, Egypt, Syria and Iraq join military and economic forces together. Unlike the European Confederation, the states remained largely independent, however.
In 2060, Nigeria, one of the largest oil exporters in the world, saw another uprising of the Islamic terrorist group "Boko Haram". Oil exports stagnated drastically as the government was fighting an ongoing war within its own country.
The Slavic Union and the People's Republic of China were diplomatically getting closer during the mid to late 2060s. Although not much was officially known about the relations, the western world was preparing for the worst. A sort of cold war started between the Western world, the Sunni Brotherhood, the Slavic Union and the People's Republic of China. Yet no party dared to make a move.
During this time, the global economy stagnated drastically. The prosperity previously known throughout much of the world was in danger due to the lack of petroleum and, especially in South America, Africa, the Middle East and Australia, clean water. Fracking, pollution and the melting of the glaciers and polar caps have not only drastically reduced the amount of clean drinking water to be found, it has swept millions of refugees away from the coast territories, which have suffered from the rising ocean level.

Timeline

24. 02. 2022: The Russian Federation begins a land invasion of Ukraine. This act is met with international condemnation and the United Nations passes a resolution condemning the invasion
10. 09. 2024: In Nigeria, left-wing politician Olabode Uzoma is elected in a surprise win. He promises to reform the country and increase stability, safety, and civil liberties.
01. 12. 2024: Ukraine surrenders to the Russian Federation and cedes a large portion of the country to Russia, which establishes the Ukraina Oblast, an incorporated territory of the Russian Federation.
27. 12. 2024: Nigeria faces a crisis after multiple militarized oil companies from the southern part of the country start an insurrection in order to secure their position in light of the new government. The Nigerian armed forces are unable to effectively suppress these paramilitary groups.
29. 12. 2024: Following pressure from the public, almost all international oil companies completely withdraw from Nigeria. It is estimated that over 300'000 Nigerians lose their jobs following the dissolution of the Nigerian branches.
02. 01. 2025: Iran discovers a tremendous amount of oil in a thus far undiscovered oil field near the city of Tabriz. The construction of large oil fields, during which dozens of villages close to the Azerbaijani border are levelled, follows suit.
19. 04. 2025: Seven of the largest oil companies in Nigeria strike a deal and join their military forces.
27. 04. 2025: Odawah Muhumed assumes the office of president in Somalia.
02. 05. 2025: Norway joins the European Union.
23. 05. 2025: The Nigerian oil companies take over the capital of Abuja. President Uzoma and eleven other politicians are executed while the city is ransacked by the mercenaries fighting for the oil companies. Some of the largest companies later join up to form AxonPetrocyne Inc. Together, they reform the government into a military dictatorship.
02. 02. 2032: In the USA, Presidential candidate Chelsea Reynolds splits the vote between the Democrats and her own Liberal Progressive Party of America. Arthur L. Collins of the Republicans is voted into office.
11. 02. 2032: The Russian Federation launches missile strikes on military targets in Georgia, Azerbaijan and Armenia.
15. 02. 2032: Rallies and riots ignite throughout the USA, as the majority of the public does not accept President Collins and his hardline conservative stance. 
18. 02. 2032: The Russian Federation invades Georgia in a manner similar to Blitzkrieg Tactics. The capital, Tbilisi, falls within two weeks.
20. 02. 2032: Russia leaves the UN
27. 02. 2032:A riot in Washington DC escalates after President Collins calls in the National Guard to "deal with the rioters". Eleven civilians are shot and dozens more are wounded after soldiers start firing into the crowd. Many are appalled at the violence and call for the immediate removal of the President.
20. 07. 2033: Following unrest within the country and recently annexed territories, the Russian Federation reforms its government and establishes a totalitarian dictatorship. The focus on military, surveillance, prosecution of opposition, and propaganda is rapidly increased, much to the dismay of the Western World.
09. 08. 2037: The People's Republic of China declares war on what they call the "Renegade State of Taiwan". Taiwan's strongest ally, the United States of America, remains silent on the matter and does not promise military aid, fearing an escalation between the US and China.
11. 08. 2037: China launches missile strikes against Taiwan against military and civilian targets. The United Nations condemns this act of aggression,

Date: 19. October 2081 - 8 January 2110 (28 years 2 months 21 days) Location: Global

Conflict Type

War