The Unraveling Order: Seven Questions Defining Global Geopolitics at the Close of 2025

As 2025 draws to a close, the world isn't grappling with a single crisis, but a web of interconnected challenges. From a fragile ceasefire in Gaza under the shadow of a Trump presidency to a political rightward shift reshaping South America, the old certainties of the global order are fracturing. It’s a moment defined less by answers and more by pressing, complex questions.

The Trump Doctrine on Trial

The most immediate questions revolve around Washington's foreign policy. How a Trump administration will act to protect the Gaza ceasefire deal, how it will respond to the killing of three of its soldiers in Syria, and how it will manage the dangerous standoff with Venezuela are all tests of its 'America First' doctrine. It's a pragmatic, often transactional approach colliding with complex, long-standing conflicts where simple deals are elusive.

Context: The 'America First' approach tends to prioritize bilateral negotiations over multilateral agreements and short-term national interest over long-term strategic commitments. This has led to increased unpredictability and strained relationships with traditional allies.

Shifting Continents: What Lies Behind

Meanwhile, entire continents are in flux. The story behind South America’s conservative turn isn't just about domestic politics; it's a recalibration of its place in the world. This search for a new identity and strategic autonomy also helps explain the persistent delays that have plagued the landmark EU-Mercosur trade deal. Both blocs are reassessing their priorities in a changing global economy.

The Forgotten Fronts

Beyond the great power rivalries, critical questions of human survival persist, often in the shadows. Who will save Afghans from hunger as international attention wanes? How can Bangladesh navigate its extreme political volatility? These crises risk becoming footnotes in a world preoccupied with geopolitical chess, posing a profound challenge to the conscience of the international community.