Based on the latest global reports from 2025, we are currently very close to significant risks of war and armed conflict worldwide. Major hotspots where conflict risks are rising sharply include:
- Kashmir: Conflict tensions between nuclear-armed India and Pakistan remain dangerously high, with recent terror attacks escalating hostilities close to open warfare.
- Middle East: Ongoing wars in Gaza, Ukraine, and the potential for widening violence to include Israel-Hezbollah conflicts and Iran-Israel hostilities present severe risks.
- Eastern Europe: Russia’s continued aggression toward Ukraine and proxy conflicts pose a persistent threat of escalation and broader involvement.
- Indo-Pacific: Flashpoints including Taiwan Strait and South China Sea have a moderate likelihood of igniting conflict, increasing risk of wars involving major powers.
- Africa: Countries like South Sudan and unstable regional situations add to global instability.
The Global Risks Report 2025 identifies war as the greatest immediate threat, with nearly a quarter of experts globally highlighting rising geopolitical tensions and armed conflicts between nations as the top risk. The overall global risk environment is characterized by accelerating conflicts, increasing military confrontations, and heightened geopolitical rivalries.
In summary, the world in 2025 is very close to war in multiple regions simultaneously, with several high-risk escalation zones. The situation demands urgent diplomatic efforts to prevent large-scale armed conflicts and nuclear confrontations especially involving major powers.
