Global Scans · Conflict · Weekly Summary

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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• [New] Until the U.S. sheds its outdated superiority complex and transforms its tech leadership into an integrated military architecture, it will remain vulnerable in a world where strategic speed is the primary weapon. Vanguard Think Tank
• [New] The United States will not lose the AI war for lack of technology, but for lack of strategy. Vanguard Think Tank
• [New] Recognizing the importance of regulating the spreading influence of AI in military operations, the UN secretary general aims to achieve a legally binding treaty by 2026 that bans AI weapons systems that operate without human control or oversight and cannot comply with international humanitarian law. Minnesota Journal of International Law
• [New] High-ranking US generals have openly stated that they expect a war with China within the next five years. World Socialist Web Site
• [New] Russia could be ready to expand its war into Europe within the next five years. The Week
• [New] The future of the conflict in Ukraine comes under fresh scrutiny as some international leaders weigh a controversial peace proposal backed by the U.S. - critics warn it could force Ukraine to cede territory under pressure. Medium
• [New] Parliament's defence select committee has raised concerns over the UK's vulnerability to undersea sabotage, known as grey zone actions that can cause big disruption but are likely to fall short of acts of war. The Guardian
• [New] Tech billionaires are gearing up to fight AI regulation by amassing multi-million dollar war chests ahead of the 2026 US midterm elections. MIT Technology Review
• [New] Allies must be more proactive on the cyber offensive and improve intelligence sharing, while analysts told Politico that cyber tools could be used to disrupt Russia's war-related infrastructure - including the Alabuga industrial zone that produces Shahed drones. UNITED24 Media
• [New] The United States will likely become involved in a nuclear conflict within the coming decade. Yeni Safak
• [New] The United States has warned it may scale back intelligence sharing and weapons supplies to pressure Ukraine into accepting the framework of a U.S.-brokered peace agreement. Ukraine's Arms Monitor
• [New] A war over Taiwan could be cataclysmic for the global economy, potentially slashing global GDP by as much as 10%. Newsweek
• [New] The Golden Dome concept could radically alter global military dynamics by providing a defence system capable of intercepting and neutralizing threats posed by nuclear weapons, potentially making the doctrine of mutually assured destruction obsolete. KeepTrack
• [New] The Kremlin wants Europeans to feel that they are at war, or close to it, and therefore that supporting Ukraine is no longer worth the risk. Atlantic Council
• [New] Russia is actively mapping key offshore infrastructure like gas pipelines and ministers have warned it has the capability to damage or destroy infrastructure in deepwater, in the event that tensions over Ukraine spill over into a wider European conflict. Politico
• [New] The Soviet Union continued to accumulate weapons in the hopes of reaching parity with the United States. American Affairs Journal
• [New] This decade will see the first major international incidents involving autonomous weapons systems and AI-enabled cyber attacks on critical infrastructure, forcing the creation of nascent global governance frameworks for Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems. Futurist Speaker on AI Leadership, Future of Work, Futu
• [New] More fundamentally, assuming that China eventually follows the democratic path of other Asian Tigers, by then the techno-economic war will long be over, with the United States and the West having lost much of their national power industry base. Information Technology and Innovation Foundation | ITIF
• [New] A growing divergence between China's English-language and Chinese-language propaganda about Taiwan might suggest that the CCP is taking the initial steps to prepare its people for the possibility of war. Futura Doctrina
• [New] Key international players' choices about whether to exacerbate or de-escalate tensions will determine whether we face another world war or find a path toward stability as the balance of power in the global arena swings between established and up-and-coming powers. The Financial Express
• [New] The militarization of islands and regular naval drills between Chinese and American forces increase the risk of a military conflict. The Financial Express
• [New] The war in Ukraine has showcased the integration of cyber operations with kinetic military campaigns, involving disruptive attacks on critical infrastructure, information warfare, and coordinated influence operations targeting civilian populations and international allies. Rapid7

Last updated: 02 December 2025