Introduction
This Geopolitical Report Tearline briefing summarizes key global events collected and mapped on January 22nd, 2025, for the Geopolitical Report. It is intended to provide readers with a concise overview of significant geopolitical developments, emerging threats, and key actors to watch.
Major Themes
- Persistent Conflict & Instability: Today, we collected and mapped ongoing conflicts in multiple regions, including Ukraine, Syria, Myanmar, Yemen, Colombia, and South Sudan. These conflicts involve state and non-state actors, resulting in significant casualties and displacement.
- Terrorism & Insurgency: Terrorist and insurgent activities are widespread, with incidents reported in Afghanistan, Nigeria, India, Iraq, Thailand, and the West Bank. These activities include bombings, armed attacks, and targeted killings of civilians and security forces.
- Great Power Competition: The interactions of great powers are evident through proxy conflicts, military exercises, and geopolitical maneuvering. The involvement of Russia in Ukraine, China's activities around Taiwan, and US-led military exercises reflect the ongoing competition for influence.
- Humanitarian Crisis: Many of the events resulted in the displacement of populations, civilian casualties, and attacks on humanitarian workers. The displacement of civilians in Colombia due to conflict and the violent targeting of civilians and rescue workers in Ukraine are examples of these humanitarian crises.
- Weapons Proliferation & Usage: The events detail multiple instances of weapons usage, including IEDs, grenades, airstrikes, and drone attacks, in various conflicts. The interception of arms shipments also highlights the ongoing flow of intrastate and interstate weapons proliferation.
Key Areas of Interest
- Ukraine: The conflict in Ukraine remains a major flashpoint, with frequent airstrikes and artillery shelling reported across multiple regions. The use of drones by both sides and the continued high casualty figures underscore the intensity of the war. The capture of Russian collaborators further highlights the conflict's internal tensions and intelligence operations.
- Middle East: The Middle East continues to be a region of great concern. Conflicts are ongoing in Syria and Yemen. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict in Gaza and the West Bank also is a source of violence and tension. The arrest of a Libyan warlord in Italy points to the interconnectedness of conflicts and the challenges of international justice.
- Africa: Several African countries face significant security challenges, including terrorist attacks and insurgencies. Nigeria is particularly affected by Boko Haram and ISWAP. Terrorist leaders surrendering in Katsina state indicate the dynamics of counter-terrorism efforts in the region.
- South Asia: India faces a range of security threats, including Maoist insurgencies and cross-border terrorism. The discovery of IEDs and the arrest of arms dealers highlight the diverse nature of these threats. Pakistan's interception of an arms shipment reveals the ongoing flow of weapons in the region.
- East Asia: China's military activity around Taiwan highlights the simmering tensions in East Asia. The involvement of North Korean soldiers in the conflict in Russia reveals the potential for the conflict to expand to additional global actors.
