Global powers brace for economic warfare as WEF flags top 2026 risk

The WEF’s Global Risks Report 2026 warns geoeconomic confrontation and great‑power competition now top the near‑term threat list, with AI disruption rising as a structural risk.

Summary

• WEF survey respondents rank geoeconomic confrontation and economic warfare above state conflict, misinformation, and climate in near‑term global risk severity.​
• Report flags accelerating AI and quantum advances as emerging threats to jobs, inequality, and geopolitical stability, with AI risk surging up the long‑term rankings.​
• Findings arrive ahead of Davos, where leaders will debate tariffs, debt, and tech governance amid growing fragmentation and fears of a “new age of competition.”

Competition between world powers and economic conflicts have been identified as the most significant threats facing the global community in the near term, according to a new report released Wednesday.

WEF publishes annual Global Risks Report

The World Economic Forum published its annual Global Risks Report, outlining key challenges expected to emerge over the next several years. The report surveyed respondents about anticipated risks over a two-year horizon, with approximately half identifying economic warfare and geopolitical competition as primary concerns.

The findings indicate a shift in the global risk landscape, with interstate tensions and economic disruption taking precedence among identified threats. The report also highlighted artificial intelligence-related disruptions as a significant emerging risk factor.

The World Economic Forum‘s Global Risks Report is released annually and surveys global experts, business leaders, and policymakers to assess the most pressing threats to international stability and economic security.

Details regarding specific policy recommendations and the full scope of identified risks were not immediately available. The organization typically presents the report ahead of its annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland.