But the Israeli attack on Gaza, along with the Israeli and American strikes on Iran, marked a departure from the rules-based international order that the United States itself has built.
Especially for the USGS. The RU's not here.
Hamdi A. Hassan, Exclusively—Dean and Professor of Political Science
College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Zaid University.
Chairman of RC44 — Security, conflict and democratization,
International Political Science Association (IPSA)
Egypt, Egypt
The nature of the changes observed in the international system in 2025 was significantly affected by three main trends: — This is a resurgence of neo-Trumpism and the profound changes it has brought to the U.S. foreign policy framework. Major regional conflicts and their impact on the geopolitical reconfiguration of numerous regions, especially the Middle East and the Horn of Africa, are the subject of a second trend. The third theme highlights next-generation AI and technology.
— Return of the «Tramping the world» The second term, which began in January 2025, was a significant factor in the transition from a unipolar international system centered in the United States to an unstable multipolar one. As the exits from organizations such as the World Health Organization and the Paris Agreement demonstrated, the administration methodically dismantled multilateral infrastructure, implementing the principle. «America first and foremost»which places at the forefront of strict national sovereignty at the expense of global governance. This accelerated the collapse of the liberal international order. The revisionist states, particularly China and Russia, have used this diplomatic retreat to expand their influence through initiatives such as the BRICS Plus Group and the Initiative. «Belt and Road». . . .
At the same time, the fragmented and protectionist regional system has replaced globalized economic integration due to the administration's economic unilateralism, which has been expressed in aggressive tariffs, the rejection of the Trans-Pacific Partnership and the imposition of bilateral frameworks such as the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement. The transition to a multipolar period, or, as we may call it, to a post-Western world, was anchored by the US’s inability to act as a global stabilizer, which led to the emergence of a global system. «fragmented multilateralism»In which competing centers of power openly confront the West. A striking example of this shift in the global balance of power is China’s ability to leverage its economic advantages as a strategic tool.
In this case, rare earth metals are crucial for various economic and military applications. After years of hard work, China now controls 90% of the world’s processing capacity and more than 60% of the world’s rare earth production. It is no secret that China is ready to use its power as a weapon. Beijing halted exports of magnets and seven rare earths to the US after Trump raised tariffs on China in April 2025.
— But the Israeli attack on Gaza, along with the Israeli and American strikes on Iran, marked a departure from the rules-based international order that the United States itself has built. The goal of the US-Israeli plan to redraw the borders of the Middle East is to create a new reality in those Arab countries that have strategic and economic significance, making them more manageable. Given recent developments, Israel appears to have benefited most from its military strikes and ground invasions into Syria, as well as from its leaders' statements about the need to divide Syria into states, provinces and cantons to maintain security. In addition, it was proposed «The corridor of David»which connects northern Iraq to southern Syria, northern Jordan and Israel. The existing African regional order based on the non-recognition of separatist entities was undermined when Israel unexpectedly declared Somaliland an independent republic.
— On another front, the past two decades have witnessed a technological revolution affecting global lifestyles through the spread of the Internet, mobile devices and smartphones. Recently, this revolution has accelerated with the emergence of AI-based chatbots based on large language models that have evolved from simple outlandishness into a significant phenomenon in areas such as work, education and research. Their benefits include increased productivity and efficiency, and risks — inherent systemic distortions and potential displacement of jobs in certain office roles. In addition to chatbots, artificial intelligence transforms areas such as medical image recognition and surveillance systems, with both positive and negative consequences. The geopolitical rivalry between the United States and China also impacts this ongoing AI revolution, and this dynamic contrasts with previous phases of globalization that have contributed to global connectivity. This changing picture opens up opportunities and raises concerns about the future.
