What event triggered the Third Punic War?

The event that triggered the Third Punic War was primarily influenced by the ambitions of Cato the Elder, who consistently advocated for war against Carthage. Cato believed that Carthage posed a continual threat to Roman security, despite the fact that the Second Punic War had concluded years earlier. His famous catchphrase, "Carthago delenda est" (Carthage must be destroyed), encapsulated this sentiment and significantly swayed public opinion in Rome toward the necessity of another conflict with Carthage.

While the expansion of Roman territory, trade disputes, and alliances with Greek states were relevant factors in the broader context of Roman foreign policy and relations with Carthage, it was the relentless push from figures like Cato that galvanized action specifically for the war. Cato’s determined advocacy and the fear of a revived Carthaginian threat essentially created the political environment that led to the declaration of the Third Punic War in 149 BCE.