Global Hotspots: Q3 Review and Q4 2026 Outlook

In this special edition of Global Hotspots, Milos Maggiore, Jared Jeter, Andrew Loftesnes, and Sebastian Dittgen break down some of the key incidents that happened over this past quarter and look at some of the major trends we can expect as 2026 comes to a close.

Conflicts in the Middle East and Russia/Ukraine are expected to intensify, and several other countries will trend toward destabilization as politically polarizing elections occur in Q4.

These trends are likely to cause political, social, and economic disruptions, especially to the energy sector. Technological advances may mitigate some disruptions, but all eyes will be on artificial intelligence development and deployment, as that may add instability to the international system.

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Photo: This photograph shows a burning mall following a drone strike in Zaporizhzhia, late on September 17, 2026, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (Photo by Darya NAZAROVA / AFP via Getty Images)