The year 2025 was marked by global turbulence, including ongoing wars in Ukraine and Gaza, a significant US political comeback with Trump, shifts in international alliances and sanctions, major trade tensions, and historic political changes such as Japan's first female prime minister, all shaping a tumultuous global landscape.
War on the Rocks' most-read articles of 2025 highlight global conflicts, military modernization, and strategic technology, reflecting a year of significant geopolitical tensions and evolving warfare strategies.
Peruvian shamans performed a ritual predicting that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro will be ousted in 2026, while also forecasting ongoing global conflicts like the Ukraine war and natural disasters, with mixed accuracy in past predictions.
The 2026 Preventive Priorities Survey highlights the ongoing and emerging global conflicts that pose significant risks to U.S. interests, emphasizing the need for proactive conflict prevention and strategic foresight amid a world with increasing violence and instability.
President Trump claims to have ended eight wars through various peace agreements and negotiations, including conflicts in Gaza, Armenia-Azerbaijan, Congo-Rwanda, Israel-Iran, India-Pakistan, Cambodia-Thailand, and diplomatic standoffs like Ethiopia-Egypt and Serbia-Kosovo, though some of these conflicts were not active wars at the time or are disputed in terms of impact.
The article examines President Trump's claims of ending seven wars, highlighting the complexities and disputes surrounding his involvement in conflicts such as Armenia-Azerbaijan, Cambodia-Thailand, Israel-Iran, India-Pakistan, DRC-Rwanda, Egypt-Ethiopia, and Kosovo-Serbia, with many conflicts ongoing or unresolved despite his assertions.
A UN official warns that conflicts, natural disasters, and significant cuts in international aid are creating a 'perfect storm' leading to severe food shortages and increased suffering among the world's most vulnerable populations, with regions like Afghanistan, Myanmar, and Gaza being heavily impacted, and highlights the urgent need for new funding sources and increased efficiency in aid efforts.
President Trump claimed to have ended six or seven wars during his first months in office, citing various conflicts such as Israel-Iran, Rwanda-Congo, Armenia-Azerbaijan, and others. However, experts note that many of these conflicts are ongoing or only partially resolved, and some of Trump's claims are disputed or exaggerated. The article provides a detailed review of each conflict and the role Trump played in their developments.
President Trump has claimed to have ended multiple wars, but experts say he played a role in some conflicts' resolutions, while others were not wars or remain ongoing. His claims include involvement in conflicts between India and Pakistan, Israel and Iran, and others, but the accuracy varies, with some disputes being resolved through diplomacy and others still unresolved or not wars at all.
President Trump claimed to have solved six wars in six months, but many of the conflicts cited are not actual wars or lack direct intervention by his administration, making his claim misleading. While he played roles in some ceasefires and peace deals, the long-term success and scope of these resolutions are questionable.
Expert analysis suggests that Donald Trump's claim of resolving six conflicts in six months is exaggerated; some interventions led to temporary ceasefires or agreements, but many are unverified, incomplete, or have long-term issues, indicating limited success overall.
Pope Leo XIV has called for all faithful to fast and pray on August 22 for peace and justice amid ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine, invoking the Virgin Mary as Queen of Peace.
President Donald Trump claimed to have ended six to seven wars through peace deals, including conflicts involving Iran and Israel, India and Pakistan, Rwanda and DRC, Thailand and Cambodia, Armenia and Azerbaijan, and efforts related to Egypt and Ethiopia, though the lasting impact and actual end of these conflicts are subject to debate.
Donald Trump claims to have ended six wars during his presidency, but many of these conflicts are ongoing or his involvement is disputed, and he has often sought ceasefires rather than full peace agreements. His record includes calls for ceasefires in India-Pakistan, Israel-Iran, and other conflicts, but the accuracy of these claims is questionable, especially regarding Ukraine and other unresolved disputes.
King Charles commemorated the 80th anniversary of VJ Day, reflecting on the true cost of war and highlighting ongoing global conflicts, while emphasizing lessons of unity and reconciliation from World War II during a remembrance service in Britain.