World Economic Forum: World faces most complex geopolitical crisis in decades

The global economy is grappling with an unusually turbulent moment, marked by the most intricate geopolitical and economic challenges seen in decades, according to the president of the World Economic Forum (WEF).

“It is the most complex geopolitical and geo-economic backdrop we've seen in decades,” WEF President and CEO Børge Brende told Agence France-Presse (AFP) on Tuesday, ahead of the forum's multilateral gathering in Tianjin, northern China. He cautioned that the growing uncertainty is already weighing on global growth prospects.

Brende also commented on the recent wave of US tariff hikes, noting that it is premature to assess their full impact. “It is too early to say what these tariffs will end with because the negotiations are still ongoing,” he said.

The WEF summit comes at a time of rising global tensions, from ongoing wars and trade disputes to inflation and fragmented supply chains, all contributing to a volatile economic climate. Brende’s remarks reflect the increasing concern among international leaders over the ability of global institutions to respond to overlapping crises.