INSATIABLE desire for money and power, by declaring unnecessary wars and promoting global supply of arms and ammunition has now become the most lucrative and easy way to make millions in the shortest possible time.

In the bargain, if thousands of innocent people die, the uncouth and shameless murderers do not mind doing it, as long as their purpose is served. The most horrifying truth is that perpetrators target third-world countries (mostly Muslim) to fulfill their designs. Wars create humanitarian crises, disrupt work and food access, overwhelm healthcare, keep children from school, fuel violence (especially against women) and cause lasting psychological and emotional trauma, even if brief.

Global political turmoil in 2026 is driven by intense, overlapping crises, including the on-going war in Ukraine, conflict in the Middle East (Gaza, Lebanon and now Iran) and instability in the Sahel and Sudan. Rising geopolitical tensions, fragmented conflicts and economic fragility have led to a continued decline in global peace, with risks from armed groups in areas where “big powers” play their game and fund and finance the armed groups created by them.

Current global turmoil threatens peace and stability across multiple regions. In the Middle East, conflicts in Gaza/West Bank, Lebanon and the war with Iran create major regional volatility. Europe faces insecurity from the ongoing Ukraine war, worsened by rising populist influence. Asia contends with Myanmar’s fragmented internal conflict, North Korea and South China Sea tensions. Africa continues to struggle with severe instability in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia and the Sahel. In the Americas, Haiti and Ecuador experience high levels of gang violence and political insecurity, further complicating global stability.

Major drivers of global unrest include the weaponization of technology—drones, cyberattacks and potentially autonomous weapons—reshaping warfare. A global rise in populism and weakening institutions fuel political breakdowns, particularly in Europe and North America. Economic strain, inflation, food insecurity and climate disasters worsen political violence. Travelers are advised to stay alert, avoid protests and have contingency plans. Geo-economic confrontation—the use of tariffs, sanctions and investment controls—is now considered the greatest threat to world peace, surpassing traditional warfare and extreme weather events, according to the World Economic Forum’s 2026 Global Risks Perception Survey of over 1,300 experts.

Undoubtedly the most important and urgent issue and human tragedy which needs world attention is the neglected and displaced people of Gaza and Palestine. According to the United Nations, roughly 90% of Gaza’s population (close to 2 million people) has been forced to flee their homes since October 2023, with thousands of people losing their lives and many thousands missing. Livelihoods and supply of food has been decimated and health and hygiene services have both been brought to the brink of collapse. Economic conflicts now outpace even conventional armed conflict as the greatest short-term risk to world stability.

A world ordered for decades by globalization and geo-economics has quickly become a world grounded in geopolitical risk. Accumulating shocks such as the Russia-Ukraine conflict have persisted significantly, reorganizing global structures and relationships in 2025, while the US policy is to compete irresponsibly with rival superpowers as it pursues its own interests, giving rise to increased geopolitical tensions. Energy and climate change continue to be politically polarizing issues, with global progress notably lacking on the climate transition. However, the recent energy price shock in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and now due to Iran-Israel war and closure of Strait of Hormuz has resulted in substantial rise in oil price, posing a grave danger to the global economy.

The rise of nationalism and protectionism has led to increased scrutiny of the positive impacts of globalization. Factors like the COVID-19 pandemic and geopolitical conflicts have exposed weaknesses in global supply chains. Businesses remain interested in cross-border economic engagement, but the anti-globalization movement poses a threat to economic growth and international relations. Cyber attacks are becoming more frequent and severe and the human and financial impact of attacks continues to rise in line with the increasing digitization of critical infrastructure. Cyber warfare represents a new frontier in global conflict, involving digital attacks, aimed at disrupting, damaging or infiltrating another’s critical infrastructure. Recent notable examples of cyber warfare include the 2017 Wanna cry ransomware attack and the 2021 ransomware attack on the US colonial pipeline.

Geopolitical risks have the potential to impact the global economic outlook, influencing growth, inflation, financial markets and supply chains. Conflicts, such as the Russia-Ukraine war and the Israel-Iran war, fuel regional instability and have impacted energy and food security, with higher prices leading to increased inflation rates. The US-China relationship could potentially influence sourcing patterns and tariff costs, while governments in the Asia-Pacific region are implementing strategies to secure access to critical minerals.

The most worrying aspect of the present volatile situation is the trend which has persisted and in spite of acknowledging the grave threat to Global Peace, the leaders have failed to contain and resolve it. The greatest human tragedy of our time-the killing of innocent young children in Gaza, bombing of schools and hospitals and killing of innocent civilians by Israel needs to be stopped forthwith and World leaders must listen to their conscience to stop it.

—The writer is Former Civil Servant and Consultant (ILO) & International Organisation for Migration and author of seven books.

© Pakistan Observer