Economic confrontation between nations emerges as top global risk in latest World Economic Forum survey
The WEF reports that economic confrontation has replaced armed conflict as the top global risk. This shift stems from rising trade barriers and resource controls.
The World Economic Forum (WEF) released its annual risks perception survey on January 14, 2026, revealing a structural shift in global threat assessments. For the first time in the report's history, economic confrontation between nations has been identified as the top global risk concern for the next two years, displacing armed conflict from the leading position it previously held. This finding comes as world leaders and experts prepare for the Davos annual gathering, which is scheduled to commence the following week.
