Wars Top Global Risk as Davos Elite Gathers in Fragmented World
Riyadh, January 15, 2025 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – Armed conflict has emerged as the most severe global risk in 2025, according to a World Economic Forum (WEF) survey released on Wednesday, underscoring the escalating challenges of geopolitical fragmentation. This pressing issue will dominate discussions as government and business leaders converge in Davos next week for the WEF’s annual meeting.
The survey, conducted among more than 900 experts from academia, business, and policymaking, revealed that nearly one in four respondents identified wars and terrorism as the leading threat to economic growth this year. This marks a stark shift in global priorities, with extreme weather — the primary concern in 2024 — now ranking as the second most significant risk.
“In a world marked by deepening divides and cascading risk, global leaders have a choice: to foster collaboration and resilience, or face compounding instability,” WEF Managing Director Mirek Dusek said in a statement accompanying the report. “The stakes have never been higher.”
The WEF meeting, set to begin on January 20, will host a range of high-profile participants, including U.S. President Donald Trump, who will address the gathering virtually on January 23, shortly after being sworn in as the 47th president of the United States. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy is expected to deliver a keynote speech on January 21, amid continuing efforts to address the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Middle East Conflicts and Geopolitical Tensions
WEF President and CEO Børge Brende emphasized the critical humanitarian crises and the risk of further escalation in the Middle East as key topics for this year’s discussions. Negotiators are reportedly finalizing the details of a potential ceasefire in Gaza, following intensive talks in Qatar. The situation in Syria and broader regional instability are also expected to dominate the agenda.
Despite President Trump’s campaign pledge to resolve the Ukraine conflict on his first day in office, advisers to the administration acknowledged that the war would likely extend for months or even longer, Reuters reported.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and China’s Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang are among the global leaders scheduled to attend the forum, reflecting the broad geopolitical spectrum of the gathering.
Long-Term Risks: Environmental Challenges Persist
The WEF survey also highlighted environmental threats as the most severe risks over a 10-year horizon. Extreme weather events, biodiversity loss, critical changes to Earth’s systems, and natural resource shortages dominated concerns among respondents. The findings follow reports that global temperatures exceeded the critical 1.5°C threshold above pre-industrial levels for the first time in 2024, bringing the world closer to breaching the commitments made under the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement.
Additionally, the proliferation of misinformation and disinformation remains a significant global risk for the second consecutive year, ranking as the top threat over the next two years.
As leaders prepare to address these multifaceted challenges, the survey underscores the enduring complexities of a fragmented world order. Sixty-four percent of respondents expect a multipolar and divided global structure to persist, raising the stakes for international cooperation in Davos and beyond.