A hair-trigger situation has been created which could lead to an outbreak of war at any time.

局势风云突变，战争一触即发。

《柯林斯英汉双解大词典》

What we have to watch out for is the chance a deranged, fluid-obsessed Army general like Jack D. Ripper will decide to start a war and unknowingly trigger a Russian doomsday machine.

但是还是要小心那些像 JACK D RIPPER这样的疯狂盲流将军突然决定发动的一场战争，而且又凑巧在不知不觉的情况下触发了俄国的末日机器。

youdao

Mr Dagan warns that an attack on Iran would be “stupid” and would trigger a regional war, “and in that case you would have given Iran the best possible reason to continue the nuclear programme.

达甘将军警告说向伊朗发起攻击并非明智之举，很可能会导致地区战争，“如此一来，你将会为伊朗提供一个最好的理由去继续推行核计划。”

youdao

Some warn the measures could trigger a trade war. Others say they represent more normal trade relations.

VOA: standard.2009.11.10

Kerry warned that a quick U.S.pullout from Afghanistan could trigger a civil war.

VOA: standard.2009.10.26

They were accused of plotting to bomb mosques and trying to trigger a war with Greece in order to justify a military coup against the elected government of Mr Erdogan in 2003.

BBC: Turkey President Turgut Ozal's remains exhumed

Might food safety trigger a trade war between the U.S. and China that yuan revaluation and the bilateral trade balance couldn't?

FORBES: Magazine Article

If he decides to sell down his stake, he will likely trigger a bidding war between two heavyweight buyers--SingTel and Vodafone.

FORBES: Magazine Article