Top geopolitical risks 2025

Published on March 13, 2025

In the current era of unprecedented global change, businesses are navigating several geopolitical risks that can profoundly impact their operations and growth. For several years, geopolitical and political uncertainties have topped our list of CEO concerns.¹ Recent conversations with business leaders have revealed that these risks are no longer theoretical—they have real, tangible effects on strategic and operational decisions.

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of the five most pressing geopolitical challenges that organizations will face in the near term. Each of these areas presents unique challenges, yet they can also offer opportunities for organizations to adapt and innovate. By treating risk as an asset, leaders can align enterprise risk management with strategic objectives, positioning their organizations to thrive in a world of uncertainty.

As global geopolitics continue to shift, staying ahead of the curve is essential for maintaining a competitive edge. By treating geopolitical risk as a fundamental part of business strategy, companies cannot only address threats but also seize opportunities, paving the way for growth and success.

Top trends

In our report, we have identified five critical trends:

Tectonic shifts in power, economic centers and trade

New trade alliances and investment hubs are redefining global power dynamics. The US is imposing tariffs, eliciting retaliatory responses, while new economic ‘nodes’ are emerging outside of traditional investment centers.
A complex, fragmented regulatory and tax environment

Regulations and tax are evolving at different speeds in different geographies, while the US government is rolling back many regulations, especially regarding ESG. Minimum global tax is becoming adopted by many countries, while others are withdrawing from multilateral tax policy.
A fast-moving and politicized technology landscape

Shifting alliances (based upon national security concerns) and fragmented regulations add to complexity, while the emergence of new Generative AI (Gen AI) players challenges US dominance. Regulators are struggling to keep pace with new Gen AI solutions, and a rolling back of regulations could leave AI models out of control. Geopolitical competition in AI and other technologies (i.e. quantum computing) is creating technological blocs around the US and China, thus jeopardizing international cooperation and access.
Multiple threats to supply chains, assets and infrastructure

Geopolitical rivalries, trade protectionism, conflict, competition for resources, cyberattacks and climate events place severe strains on globally exposed businesses. Wars and tensions pose rising threats to key shipping choke points. Countries are adopting protectionist measures to safeguard and diversify their supply chains, including energy, food and critical minerals.
Demographic, technological and cultural pressures on workforces

Aging populations, mass retirement, falling birth rates (in developed markets), changing worker preferences, culture wars, AI integration and reskilling bring major workforce challenges. US government pushback on diversity and remote working could force companies to respond and face worker opposition.

Top geopolitical risks 2025

Top geopolitical risks 2025 provides a comprehensive analysis of what KPMG believes are the most pressing geopolitical issues businesses will face in 2025. It is designed to equip independent boards of directors and senior business executives with the insights and strategies needed to navigate the complexities of geopolitics confidently.

Download the report to explore how your organization can navigate the complexities of geopolitics with confidence and turn challenges into opportunities for success.

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Methodology

The report presents insights derived from extensive research, data analysis and case studies, including interviews and workshops with more than 100 KPMG professionals working across many global sectors and with clients of all sizes. Our secondary research includes KPMG reports, literature, academic papers, industry reports, and intergovernmental organization publications. The content was reviewed and validated by authors and contributors.

What are the opportunities for business leaders?

The world has become a much more geopolitically complex place, and these complexities are only expected to grow. Business leaders need to focus on building strategies and frameworks that take their geopolitical response from reactive to proactive, including developing holistic geopolitical risk management approaches.

Following are five key steps business leaders can think about today to help mitigate risk and capitalize on opportunities:

Broaden sources of investment capital, including increasing private capital.
Build stronger compliance capabilities to monitor and respond to evolving regulations.
Improve resilience and reputation through cybersecurity and data governance.
Build geographically shorter, simpler supply chains, along with considering friend-shoring.
Focus on and invest in corporate culture to help ensure alignment with changing values and workforces.