The year 2025 was marked by many desired and undesired events. While several armed conflicts including the Ukraine War and the Sudan Civil War have been continuing throughout 2025, there were new conflicts including Cambodia-Thailand clashes. As per the reports of multiple sources including the BBC and CNN, the tariff war and US-China trade tensions, the beginning of the Ukraine peace process, the Gaza Peace Deal, the deployment of US warships to the waters off South America, US attacks on Venezuelan drug boats, US foreign policy shift, the ouster of several governments through mass uprisings, coups or coup attempts, technological advancements and several other has marked the world in 2025.
Geopolitical rivalries, geoeconomic strategies, territorial issues, the lack of effective peace initiatives and other reasons have led to the continuation or the onset of armed conflicts that resulted in many deaths, the displacement of millions all over the world and humanitarian crises, and other undesirable events. While the Ukraine War — the war which began in 2022 with the Russian invasion of Ukraine — continues due to geopolitical rivalries and intention to continue, Thailand-Cambodia border clashes, India-Pakistan clashes and Pakistan-Afghanistan border clashes erupted due to disputed borders and several other causes. Historical rivalries caused limited-scale conflict involving Israel, the US and Iran. Rivalries, ideological reasons and intolerance led to armed attacks in several countries including Burkina Faso and Mali, resulting in many deaths.
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But, moreover, financial grievances, opposition repression and other concerns were some of the crucial causes that overthrew several governments in 2025, especially in Nepal, Peru, and Haiti, though international intervention also played a role in some contexts. In several countries, especially less democratic or authoritarian countries including El Salvador, Venezuela and Kenya, the increased use of force against political assemblies and the repression of opposition parties and civil dissent, driven by opposition intolerance and several other causes, led to many arbitrary arrests and detentions. Limited institutional capacity and ineffective coordination also led to more deaths from natural events including earthquakes and wildfires in several countries including Myanmar.
But undesired happenings have not remained unaddressed completely. Peace talks-based and other initiatives have helped mitigate conflicts, reduce political crises and address other concerns. While the ongoing Ukraine peace process has achieved some progress with several talks, several other conflicts including Thailand-Cambodia border clashes were resolved by the prompt peace initiatives of several parties including the US and the Gaza War is on its way to being resolved with the Twenty-point Peace Plan. Strengthened local initiatives and international cooperation helped deal with or minimize humanitarian crises — resulting from armed conflicts and natural disasters — including famine in Gaza and Sudan and tropical cyclones in Mozambique.
But various flaws in the efforts pose challenges to mitigating conflicts and addressing concerns including economic and political. The root causes of armed conflicts including territorial disputes (for instance, between Cambodia and Thailand), the underlying reasons for political trouble including the government’s lack of tolerance for opposition voices, and the lack of the rule of law have not been addressed in many countries. Despite progress in peace talks, the difficulty in addressing territorial issues between Russia and Ukraine and post-war security issues has hindered reaching a peace deal so far. But there is also a lack of goodwill and political commitment in ending conflicts and addressing various concerns.
Undesirable events are not surprising. Many undesirable events will also occur in 2026 and the following years but effective measures can deal with such events, reduce impacts and improve situations — more successfully. While it is vital to mitigate ongoing conflicts, addressing financial, political and other concerns is crucial. The continuation of the peace processes is needed. But bringing peace requires well-made peace plans and reaching peace terms by addressing the root causes will make peace sustainable. Continued international cooperation will reduce humanitarian crises in Gaza, Sudan and several other countries.
Providing economic opportunities and fostering financial freedom can help reduce economic grievances in many countries including those countries where governments were overthrown due to people’s discontent. The advancement of technologies including artificial intelligence needs to be used for beneficial outcomes with regulatory laws and policies. Political, religious and cultural tolerance is vital. Political goodwill and commitment are needed to address economic, political and other concerns including restrictions on freedom of speech, arbitrary arrests and detention.
