Ukraine and the Middle East are the two hottest spots in world politics and security in 2024. The Russia-Ukraine conflict has not only become more intense in its third year, but has also become fundamentally different from before, with many new types of weapons being used, many new ways of conducting conflicts being applied, and Ukraine bringing the war to Russian territory. In 2024, Russia passively confronts Ukraine within Russian territory but dominates the battlefield in Ukraine.
The conflict between Hamas and Israel has not yet had a new ceasefire, there are new hot spots between Hezbollah and Israel in Lebanon, direct military conflict between Israel and Iran, and military participation of Houthi forces in Yemen in the war game in the Middle East, North Africa and the Gulf region.
Near the end of the year, there was also a political upheaval in Syria, creating a new power vacuum in the region and a new power and influence game between Türkiye, Russia, Iran and Israel. So it can be seen that this large region will not be able to be peaceful soon in the coming year. Some regions in Africa and Asia as well as some individual countries are in a state of government, political and social crisis.
Also much more intense than last year is the level of confrontation between the world's major partner groups. The division between the US, EU and its allies with Russia and China is clearer, and the strategic competition in all aspects between these partner groups is increasingly tense. In 2024, the competition for influence between the Western bloc and the new force grouping of the Global South, between the G7 and the expanded BRICS group, will be more clearly defined.
Such a general situation makes it so that the world economy and trade can only gradually recover and grow at a slow, low and unstable rate. Solving global issues that have long been posed to the world, such as promoting peace, cooperation and development on a global scale, such as combating climate change, fighting terrorism and ensuring cyber security, eliminating poverty, etc., has not progressed smoothly and quickly.
The world in 2024 is fascinated by the presidential election in the United States. The victory of former US President Donald Trump has left a historic mark on the United States. In many countries and territories, the presidential and congressional elections have brought unexpected results, changing the political power landscape and changing the government.
A special feature of the world in 2024 is that artificial intelligence has already defined its development and application trends. It can also be said that the era of artificial intelligence has begun and its two-sided effects have also begun to be revealed.
