Global Scans · Geopolitics · Weekly Summary

• [New] Geopolitics injects significant volatility, with the war in Ukraine, an unstable ceasefire in the Middle East and the potential for a flare-up in Venezuela keeping supply chains and energy security exposed to sudden disruptions. Rystad Energy
• [New] Global political instability, particularly involving Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran, will covertly fuel a massive second wave of government-funded offensive research investments, focused heavily on AI-driven capabilities and advantages. Security Boulevard
• [New] Broadly, experts see external threats looming large, from hardening political rivalries to escalation in Ukraine. The Parliament Magazine
• [New] Geopolitics will have the greatest impact on gold prices and the other precious metals in 2026, named as the No.1 driver by more than 1-in - 4 respondents (27.2%). IFA Magazine
• [New] The year 2026 will see major changes in the foundational infrastructure of the internet, driven more by political, legal, and physical challenges than by the latest advances in consumer technology. The European Business Review
• [New] Leaders of Arab and Muslim states are unwilling to risk the optics and political backlash that would result if their forces are seen to be fighting armed Palestinians in Gaza - combat that would inevitably also result in additional Palestinian civilian casualties. The Soufan Center
• [New] 2026, will be a year of global readjustment in which the capacity to adapt to a brutal geopolitics will be tested. Ara in English
• [New] Backlash politics will sweep away Republicans in 2026. Occidental Dissent
• [New] China demands political loyalty in exchange for economic access, and the United States expects strategic clarity in exchange for its security assurances. The National Interest
• [New] Global crude inventories at sea reached 1.3 billion barrels, 30% above August levels, posing greater price threats than geopolitics. GeopoliticsUnplugged Substack
• [New] The foremost political risk in 2026 is the Shadow Government crisis in Syria. SpecialEurasia
• [New] Sanctions relief alone will not resolve Syria's deep structural challenges, but it is a necessary condition for making life in Syria viable for most families and ensuring political stability. Atlantic Council
• [New] Sanctions relief has the potential to catalyze economic recovery and contribute to political stabilization in ways that would be felt in everyday life across Syria. Atlantic Council
• [New] Pensions, migration and conscription will continue to dominate domestic politics in Germany in 2026. Deutsche Welle
• [New] 2026 could be a crucial year for the resilience of the European model, or the year it reaches its political limits in a European Union caught between internal fractures and external threats. CIDOB
• [New] Turkey's role in Trump's Gaza plan is ultimately as much about Ankara's strategic calculations as it is about Washington's search for partners willing to take the political and security risks of military deployment in Gaza. Arab Center Washington DC
• [New] Israel's objections serve a broader political purpose: casting Turkey as a new external threat. Arab Center Washington DC
• [New] A Turkish presence could create political and operational constraints for Israel, for example, by requiring coordination or notification before strikes, by limiting intelligence-gathering activities, or by necessitating justifications for operations that previously went unquestioned. Arab Center Washington DC
• [New] Nuclear proliferation, space security, hybrid and economic warfare will influence geo-politics in 2026. Dynamite News
• [New] Russian President Vladimir Putin has demonstrated in Ukraine that even massive casualty figures will not deter him from pursuing his political goals, a mindset likely shared by China and North Korea. Atlantic Council
• [New] Whether through armed conflict or economic pressure, geopolitics will continue to shape markets, and countries that fail to manage conflict risk may find themselves locked out of the next phase of global growth. Dawan Africa
• [New] Despite some major political shifts at the end of 2024 that have enabled many displaced Syrians to return home, internal and regional violence still persists and the UN estimates that 16.5 million people will require humanitarian assistance in 2025. Dynamite News

Last updated: 04 January 2026