Global Scans · Conflict · Weekly Summary

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WHAT'S NEXT?: Rising tensions around are bringing new and regional geopolitical threats and the possibility of eventual global war. Keep abreast of the unfolding drama and know where the risks and opportunities are in the world.

• [New] Asia Pacific is expected to grow at the fastest rate during the forecast period, driven by rising regional tension and security concerns. Precedence Research
• [New] NATO will need to make a decision at some point when it's going to accept that it is at war with Russia. UK Defence Journal
• [New] The current threat from NPAs, such as China or Russia, is at its highest level since the Cold War Era. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] The conflict in Ukraine represents a unique opportunity for the US to prepare for future potential conflicts with near-peer adversaries - adversarial nations with equivalent military force. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] War against countries like China and Russia, who are considered near-peer adversaries in terms of capabilities, will challenge battlefield medical care in many different ways. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] In a move that should capture the attention of war risk insurers, Australia has committed $1.7 billion (US$ 1.1 billion) to building a fleet of Ghost Shark submarine drones, which can carry out surveillance, reconnaissance, and strikes at sea. Insurance Business
• [New] As geopolitical tensions escalate amid ongoing conflict in Eastern Europe, concerns have surged globally about whether Russia opening a new military front could mark the beginning of World War III. Economic Times
• [New] If Iran proceeds with uranium enrichment with the goal of obtaining a nuclear weapon, Israel will again attempt to thwart it with further attacks on nuclear facilities. Al Jazeera Centre for Studies
• [New] Now imagine a scenario where Russia used its so-called 'grey fleet' of ships to bring containers full of drones into the North Sea and position them to attack UK airfields in a prelude to conflict. Royal Aeronautical Society
• [New] The PLA could use directed energy weapons to increase PLA Navy survivability in a potential conflict. American Enterprise Institute - AEI
• [New] The PRC military parade showcased weapons systems that could enhance PLA force projection and deterrence capabilities in a conflict over Taiwan. American Enterprise Institute - AEI
• [New] Some 57% of respondents listed the U.S.-China conflict over Taiwan as a major threat to their country. Opb
• [New] A majority of the Chinese people polled believe that U.S. economic competition and possible conflict with Washington over Taiwan present major threats to their nation, while opinion is split on what role Beijing should play on the world stage. Opb
• [New] The potential need for Brazil to create its own nuclear weapons will be associated with growing geopolitical disputes and instability in the international arena. online.ua
• [New] Hezbollah is holding an entire nation hostage, threatening to wage war on the very people it purports to protect. / Lebanon CAMERA
• [New] Together with the HSU-100, the PLA introduced the AJX-002, which was described as an uncrewed mine-laying submarine - a weapon that could be used to enforce a blockade of Taiwan or to seal straits in east Asia in a wider war. The Liberal Patriot
• [New] The 12-day war between Israel and Iran could have serious implications across the Middle East, not least by exacerbating ongoing tensions between Turkey and Israel. European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR)
• [New] Geopolitically, Trump took unprecedented action in the Middle East by directly bombing Iranian nuclear facilities - ending the 'Twelve Day War' and reversing the 15% spike in oil prices triggered by the risks to supply in the Straits of Hormuz. 4D Infrastructure - A Bennelong boutique
• [New] What was once a highly localised conflict is broadening into a regional risk scenario that the insurance industry - alongside global markets - can no longer ignore. Insurance Business
• [New] Europe could seize the $245.85 billion of frozen Russian assets currently sitting in European banks and furnish Ukraine's army with the weapons it needs to put a stop to Russia's invasion. The Kyiv Independent
• In the U.S., continued investment in hypersonics programs like the Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile, Long Range Hypersonic Weapon, and Navy Conventional Prompt Strike (CPS) reflects a strategic urgency to outpace threats in speed, precision, and survivability. Air Force Tech Connect
• Speakers from across the DoD will stress how building & defending against hypersonic weapons will be vital to preserving national security & ensuring Warfighters have the capabilities needed to win in the multi-domain battlespace. / USA Defense Daily
• Legal frameworks in the US and Europe effectively limit the deployment of fully autonomous weapon systems in environments where there is a risk of lack of discrimination. ARROWS, law firm. Legal services quickly and globally

Last updated: 16 September 2025