Global tensions and conflicts test the international order

Persistent conflicts and intensifying geopolitical rivalries continued to test the international order this year, as wars, tensions and strategic competition strained the international system, challenged efforts at cooperation, and underscored the fragility of global stability in a turbulent era.

The international landscape remained marked by significant conflicts and crises, including the continuing war in Ukraine and tensions and instability in other regions, which exacted heavy human tolls, displaced populations, and carried broader consequences for security, economies and global affairs.

Geopolitical rivalries, particularly the strategic competition among major powers, shaped the international environment, influencing everything from trade and technology to security arrangements and diplomacy, and contributing to a more contested and fragmented global order.

The strains on the international system raised concerns about the capacity of existing institutions and arrangements to manage conflicts, foster cooperation and maintain stability, amid competing national interests, eroding trust, and the challenges of addressing shared global problems.

The tensions also had economic dimensions, affecting trade, supply chains, energy and investment, as geopolitical considerations increasingly influenced economic decisions and as the interconnections of the global economy intersected with the rivalries and conflicts among nations.

The persistent conflicts and rivalries underscored the challenges facing the international order in a period of significant change and contestation, as the post-Cold-War arrangements gave way to a more multipolar, competitive and uncertain landscape. The strains on global stability and cooperation, amid pressing shared challenges from climate change to economic and technological disruption, represented one of the defining features of the era, posing difficult questions about the future of the international system and the prospects for managing a turbulent and interconnected world.