Global defense spending has reached unprecedented levels in 2026, driven by great power competition, regional conflicts, and the accelerating pace of military technological change.
NATO has undergone its most significant transformation since the Cold War, adapting to new threats including hybrid warfare, cyber attacks, and renewed great power competition.
The Arctic is emerging as a new front in great power competition, with melting ice caps opening strategic waterways and triggering a military buildup among Arctic nations.
Hybrid warfare combines military and non-military tools to achieve strategic objectives, with Russia pioneering influence operations that have reshaped global security and counter-strategies.