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 and immediate risk facing the world, warning that nations are increasingly weaponizing trade, supply chains, and investment in their strategic rivalries [49991]. The WEF's latest Global Risks Report places economic conflict between countries above all other dangers for the next two years. It states that geopolitical competition is driving this shift, creating a volatile environment that threatens international stability and growth [49991]. This economic fragmentation is unfolding against a backdrop of deep global interdependence, where countries remain closely linked by decades of trade [6971]. However, the report warns that the short-term outlook is dominated by three interconnected threats: geopolitical rivalry, the rapid spread of misinformation, and severe social and political polarization [49991]. The findings will be a central topic at the WEF's annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, next week as global leaders confront a landscape where economic tools are becoming primary instruments of state competition [49991]. Geoeconomic Warfare Named Top Global Threat for 2026 Globalization Shifts, But It Doesn't Reverse