1.
THE 5 BIGGEST
GLOBAL ISSUES IN
2016

2.
1.
The Refugee Crisis

3.
Conflicts in the Middle East led
more than 1,000,000 refugees
to cross Europe’s borders in
2015.

4.
Some EU members—for
example, Italy, Greece or
Hungary—bear the biggest
burden of the migrant flows
due to their geographical
location.

5.
Just as it failed with Greece,
Europe is still struggling to find
a mutual solution for relocating
refugees.

6.
As a result, tensions in the
European Union are rising.

7.
If European nations can’t
manage such an issue together,
it calls the European Union
project into question.

8.
2.
ISIS

9.
No one has ever seen a terrorist
army like ISIS, and no one is
sure how to handle it.

10.
A well-coordinated army of
more than 200,000 terrorists is
spreading in the Middle East at
an alarming rate.

11.
After the Paris attacks—the
deadliest terror attack in
Western Europe over the last
decade—ISIS has become a
priority issue for Europe.

12.
ISIS will remain the
international center of gravity,
as more countries get involved
in this war.

13.
3.
Crisis in Ukraine

14.
Ukraine is a critical buffer zone
for the Russians, and Russia will
never let it become a partner of
its enemy.

15.
The US will tolerate Russia’s
actions in Ukraine if it gets
something in return.

16.
The Assad regime plays an
important role in the war
against ISIS, but the US doesn’t
want to defend it publicly.

17.
Putin’s defense of Assad in the
Syrian war could help solve the
US problem.

18.
Russia, in turn, might get a
Ukraine settlement as its
reward.

19.
4.
The European
Financial Crisis

20.
Europe is on the verge of a
financial perfect storm, and the
US doesn’t want to be part of it.

21.
Greece and Germany are at
odds over debt repayments, but
both are key US allies.

22.
Washington does not want to
take sides in their financial
disagreements.

23.
American interests are taking a
new direction as Russia takes a
more aggressive stance in the
region.

24.
Protecting Europe from Russia’s
aggression is now the primary
US interest in the region.

25.
5.
China’s Downturn

26.
After dominating the growth
charts for decades, China is
reaching its limits.

27.
With growing unrest, Beijing is
clamping down and evolving
toward dictatorship.

28.
Friedman believes China will
ultimately break apart into
regional powers.

29.
Capital fleeing from China will
continue driving market action
around the globe.

30.
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