World Braces for Economic Warfare as Top Global Threat in 2026

World Braces for Economic Warfare as Top Global Threat in 2026 A new report from the World Economic Forum (WEF) has identified "geoeconomic confrontation" as the most severe risk facing the world in the next two years, warning that nations are increasingly weaponizing trade and supply chains in a dangerous new form of conflict [49991]. The WEF's latest Global Risks Report, set to be discussed at its annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, states that geopolitical rivalry is forcing countries to turn economic tools into weapons, ranking this threat above all others for 2026 [49991]. This shift is creating a volatile global environment where economic security is directly tied to national security. Analysts note this turbulence arrives during a critical political year, with major elections in the United States and Europe that will test international alliances and economic policies [42503]. The outcome of the 2024 U.S. presidential election continues to reverberate, influencing international trade, defense agreements, and global climate policy [42503][35508]. The defining global story of 2026 will be the U.S. presidential race, with every international move by Washington scrutinized through a political lens [35508]. The short-term risk landscape is dominated by three interconnected threats: geopolitical and economic rivalry, the rapid spread of misinformation, and severe social and political polarization [49991]. This comes amid persistent global economic uncertainty, with mixed signals of growth and slowdowns impacting markets worldwide [19868]. Despite this rise in economic confrontation, deep global integration persists. A century of globalization has created a world where countries are more economically interdependent than ever, making many nations reluctant to fully pick sides in a major power rivalry [6971]. This widespread interdependence continues to shape 21st-century geopolitics even as states test its limits with new forms of competition [6971]. Geoeconomic Warfare Named Top Global Threat for 2026 **Six Global Flashpoints That Will Define 2026 2026: A World Shaped by Washington Globalization Shifts, But It Doesn't Reverse Global Headlines: A Look at the World's Top Stories