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 warfare—where nations weaponize trade, supply chains, and investment—as the most severe risk facing the world over the next two years [49991]. This finding sets the stage for a turbulent 2026, a year analysts predict will be dominated by global political instability and strategic competition [42503]. The WEF's annual Global Risks Report concludes that geopolitical rivalry is forcing countries into open economic confrontation, a danger that now ranks above all other global threats [49991]. This volatile environment is fueled by three interconnected short-term dangers: geopolitical rivalry itself, the rapid spread of misinformation, and severe social and political polarization [49991]. The international landscape in 2026 will be shaped by this tense backdrop, with several key events poised to test global stability [42503]. Major elections in the United States, France, and Germany will critically influence international alliances, trade policies, and collective action on issues from security to climate change [42503][35508]. Analysts note that the U.S. presidential election, in particular, will be the defining global story, affecting everything from the war in Ukraine to competition with China [35508]. Despite this move toward confrontation, a century of globalized trade has created deep economic interdependence that makes nations reluctant to fully pick sides in a major power rivalry [6971]. This widespread interconnection continues to shape 21st-century geopolitics, even as states increasingly turn to economic tools as weapons in their strategic competitions [49991][6971]. The WEF's warnings will be a central topic at its annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, next week, as world leaders grapple with a global environment where economic conflict has become the primary threat to stability and growth [49991]. 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