SUMMARY of the Article “World of 2035,” by Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry, Dawn, April 14th, 2024

The article speculates on the potential global landscape in the year 2035, highlighting the uncertainties arising from evolving geopolitics, geo-economics, and technological advancements. It identifies four theatres of global contestation: the Indo-Pacific, Europe, Middle East, and the Indian Ocean, where major power rivalries are intensifying. Shifting alliances are observed, with informal alignments forming between the US, Europe, and Australia against Russia, China, and Iran, while some middle powers opt for strategic autonomy. Multi-alignments are emerging to pursue common interests, exemplified by groups like BRICS, QUAD, and I2U2. The article also discusses six cross-cutting trends shaping global dynamics, including emerging technologies, climate change, de-dollarisation, rare earth elements competition, non-traditional security threats, and resurgent terrorism. It predicts hybrid conflicts in high-risk areas like the South China Sea, Ukraine, Middle East, Afghanistan, and Kashmir, where countries will employ various tools of national power to achieve their objectives. Despite the changing power dynamics, the US is expected to retain its leading superpower status, while China aims for peaceful rise and industrialisation. Russia seeks to revive its influence, » Read More…