World Economic Forum (WEF)

The Global Risks Report 2026, released by the World Economic Forum (WEF), identifies geoeconomic confrontation as the most significant global risk. In the short term (2026–2028), major risks include geoeconomic confrontation, state-based armed conflicts, extreme weather events, and rising societal polarisation, while in the long term (up to 2036), the leading risks are extreme weather events, biodiversity loss, and ecosystem collapse. For India, key concerns include cyber insecurity, inequality, and weak public services. Geoeconomic confrontation refers to the use of trade, technology, sanctions, and investment controls by countries to gain strategic advantage.