Is China this year's ultimate winner?

The U.S. is focused on itself. In the place where there was a struggle for a rules-based international order — either the red flags of the Chinese Communist Party, or a vacuum for which the competition continues.

Turkey, India, Israel — strong contenders to occupy part of the space left by the States. And none is an ambassador of democratic values.

"Investing in defense — is fashionable, prestigious, and ecological. Expansion of military factory capacities, opening of new ones, use of AI in weapons systems, record defense budgets, filling ammunition depots — the new norm on all continents except Antarctica."

Nuclear deterrence is being seriously discussed by more and more non-nuclear states, even such as Germany. Some are approaching the dream of having nuclear weapons, such as Saudi Arabia or Iran.

Videos of combat actions, blood, explosions, rocket attacks in various corners of the world have become part of our everyday life. A reality in which a new generation is growing up.

And if we're already looking for pluses, I definitely see one significant one: what Ukrainians have learned over the last four years will be super-relevant and needed in 2026.

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About the author: Ahiia Zahrebelska, Ukrainian lawyer, State Commissioner of the Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine (2015–2019), Director of Partnerships and Cooperation at REB.

The editorial board does not always share the opinions expressed by blog authors.