Global Scans · Conflict · Weekly Summary

WHAT'S NEXT?: Rising tensions around are bringing new and regional geopolitical threats and the possibility of eventual global war. Keep abreast of the unfolding drama and know where the risks and opportunities are in the world.

• [New] Humanity is currently in a time of war and conflict, and in 2026, more geopolitical conflicts might emerge with risks of local wars likely to intensify. Ecns
• [New] The U.S.'s dangerous actions could potentially trigger a larger-scale war in Latin America. Ecns
• [New] The next 48 hours in Venezuela could prove decisive, with risks of civil conflict and uncertainty over whether U.S. involvement escalates. NBC News
• [New] There is a high probability of more Israel-Iran military conflict given the existential threat Tehran's nuclear program represents to Israel. Wellington
• [New] Prediction: In 2026, AI-fueled acceleration will become adversaries' primary weapon, rendering reactive security measures ineffective. Tenable
• [New] Russia's war against Ukraine will not end in 2026, and that the coming months will be dominated not by genuine negotiations, but by an imitation of diplomacy. Euromaidan Press
• [New] East-Asia enters 2026 as the region of maximum geopolitical tension and military escalation risk. Foreign Affairs Forum
• [New] Trump's restatement of the Monroe Doctrine means he is increasing intervention in Latin America, most dangerously in the repeated attacks on Venezuela which threatens war and regime change there. Counterfire
• [New] China expects to be able to fight and win a war on Taiwan by the end of 2027. Japan Forward
• [New] Russia runs out of soldiers and weapons faster than expected. Foreign Affairs Forum
• [New] Russia will exhaust its supply of weapons by late 2026 or early 2027. Foreign Affairs Forum
• [New] In an all-out war with Venezuela, it will be working class young people who are sent to kill and die, not the children of executives at ExxonMobil and LockheedMartin. Newsweek
• [New] Serbia will become a paradigmatic example for others of what a country looks like when an authoritarian government, a neoliberal economy, and a criminal war past are combined. The Geopost
• [New] Conflict in Venezuela could generate new refugee flows which would eventually reach America's southern border. The Conversation
• [New] Somali officials are expected to call for peaceful solutions, stronger global cooperation, and sustained support for countries recovering from conflict and state collapse. Garowe Online
• [New] Russia is shifting its economy onto a war footing, expanding weapons production, and increasingly mobilizing people in order to be ready for a war with NATO by 2030. RBC-Ukraine
• [New] In 2026 may involve even more war. / USA Reason.com
• [New] Most notably, the civil war in Sudan was judged as the most likely conflict to occur in 2026 among all thirty contingencies surveyed, threatening mass atrocities and regional spillover. @mathrubhumi
• [New] Experts have identified five potential flashpoints that could spark global conflict in 2026 as fears grow over Russia's next move. Daily Mirror
• [New] In response, 2026 will see the first full scanning system capable of detecting weapons from a 20-foot standoff built and beta-tested in K-12 schools, providing a potential new layer of protection for students and staff. Interesting Engineering
• [New] With increasing uncertainty across the globe - the continuing shift to a multipolar world order, and ongoing great power tension - it is likely that more countries across the Indo Pacific region will launch and support their own international media services. Public Media Alliance
• [New] The U.S ambiguity regarding Taiwan commitment becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy triggering the very conflict it might prevent. Foreign Affairs Forum
• [New] If Washington continues to view every PLA movement solely as a precursor to an amphibious landing, it plays directly into Xi's hand - expending resources on a kinetic conflict that Beijing hopes to avoid, while missing the deeper, structural contest for comprehensive national power. The Diplomat

Last updated: 06 January 2026