World situation forecast 2018

(Baonghean.vn) - It is predicted that in 2018, the world political situation will have many events with elections, negotiations, and plans to be implemented.

1. Mr. Putin continues to run for Russian president in 2018

Mr. Putin confirmed that he will run for Russian president in 2018. Photo: Sputnik

According to Reuters on December 6, Russian President Vladimir Putin officially announced that he will continue to run for president in the 2018 election.

Mr. Putin made the above statement at a meeting with veterans and senior officials of the GAZ automobile plant in the city of Nyzhniy Novgorod, Russia. He declared: "Yes, I will run for the position of President of the Russian Federation."

Opinion polls show Mr Putin will easily win next year's election, paving the way for him to extend his leadership of Russian politics into a third decade.

2. Israel and Hezbollah could go to all-out war in 2018

Xinhua News Agency reported on December 12 that former US Defense Secretary Robert Gates warned of the risk of an all-out war between Israel and the Iranian-backed Shi'ite Hezbollah force in Lebanon in 2018.

Speaking at the 10th annual Arab Strategy Forum in Dubai, the former US official said Hezbollah's assistance to the Syrian government in defeating the self-proclaimed Islamic State (IS) "could encourage the group to increase its attacks on Israel." In response, Israel could find "Hezbollah becoming a problem that needs to be dealt with."

3. Singapore sets 3 major goals for its ASEAN Chairmanship year 2018

Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong affirmed on November 14 that as Chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 2018, the Lion City will prioritize three main focuses to maintain the dynamic development of the region.

Speaking at the closing ceremony of the 31st ASEAN Summit and the handover of the rotating ASEAN Chairmanship for 2018, Mr. Lee Hsien Loong said that Singapore will continue to promote and maintain a rules-based regional order, to help ASEAN better address emerging security challenges such as cyber security, transnational crime and terrorism.

4. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro will run for re-election in 2018

On November 29, Venezuelan Vice President Tareck el Aissami made a statement about the possibility that President Nicolas Maduro will run for re-election in 2018.

Speaking during the local election campaign of the ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV), Mr. El Aissami emphasized that currently 18 out of 23 state governors in Venezuela are members of this party and President Maduro will also be “re-elected.” He also affirmed that the PSUV will win a big victory in next year’s general election.

5. Palestine: Factions agree to hold elections by the end of 2018

On November 22, after two days of reconciliation dialogue in Cairo under the auspices of Egypt, key Palestinian factions issued a joint statement, agreeing to hold elections by the end of 2018.

The joint statement said the Palestinian factions called on the election commission to begin preparations for the presidential and parliamentary elections, and asked President Mahmud Abbas to hold discussions and consultations with all factions to set a schedule for these elections.

6. Negotiations to form a new government in Germany may drag on into 2018

Negotiations between parties to form a new coalition government in Germany may have to stretch into 2018.

Negotiations between parties to form a new coalition government may have to drag on into 2018, according to a leader of the Christian Social Union (CSU) party.

Alexander Dobrindt, leader of the CSU parliamentary group in the German Federal Parliament, said that a new coalition agreement needs to be more closely and thoroughly implemented than the "grand coalition" between the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) with the CSU and the Social Democratic Party (SPD) in the last term.

7. Brazilian Congress passes electoral reform for 2018

On October 5, the Brazilian Congress approved a series of electoral reforms that will be applied to the 2018 general election. The new reforms will change several important provisions of Brazil's current electoral system. One of the most controversial reforms concerns hate speech and false information.

The new law requires all newspapers to be banned from publishing hate speech and spreading false information on social media sites and mobile phone applications. This is a measure aimed at controlling the publication of fake biographies of election candidates for the purpose of defamation.

8. IISS: The biggest concern in 2018 is the North Korean nuclear dossier

A test of North Korea's Hwasong-12 intermediate-range ballistic missile. Photo: Japan Times

The International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) predicts that geopolitical issues in 2018 will mainly revolve around the risk of nuclear weapons development, terrorism and information warfare.

In its 2017 Strategic Review, published on September 20, IISS experts said the biggest concern in the coming year will be the nuclear agenda of North Korea, which is seeking to strengthen its nuclear and missile capabilities. Next, the IISS warned that existing rifts between Western allies will continue to be exploited until differences are healed. In addition, information warfare is also a risk in Europe and elsewhere in the world.

9. Sweden increases defense spending by $250 million in 2018

On August 16, Sweden's center-left minority government announced that it had agreed with two opposition parties to increase military spending in the 2018 budget.

Swedish Radio reported that under the agreement between the coalition of the Social Democrats and the Greens and the opposition parties Moderate and Centre, the Swedish armed forces will receive an additional 2 billion crowns (equivalent to 250 million USD) in the 2018 budget, and about 6 billion crowns (about 750 million USD) in the period 2018-2020.

The 2018 budget will be presented on September 20.

10. Famous TV host will run for Russian president in 2018

Sputnik reported that famous TV presenter Ksenia Sobchak announced that she will run for president in 2018.

On the website sobchakprotivvseh.ru, she wrote: "My name is Ksenia Sobchak. I am running for President of Russia." In an open letter published by the newspaper Vedomosti, Ms. Sobchak stressed: "I am a candidate against everyone." Ms. Sobchak will turn 36 on November 5.

Russian President Vladimir Putin's press secretary, Dmitry Peskov, said that TV host Ksenia Sobchak fully complies with the requirements of the Russian Constitution for those who want to run in the upcoming presidential election./.

11. Five regions at risk of World War III in 2018

President Trump, Secretary of Defense James Mattis and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. Photo: Express

Chosen:The first flashpoint is of course North Korea, which has been conducting nuclear weapons tests, much to the displeasure of the United States. Americans fear that the Pyongyang regime's new weapons could strike Guam or any other U.S. territory.

South China Sea:According to Swedish scientists, the East Sea is the second most tense region in the world. This area concentrates a large amount of weapons and is subject to sovereignty disputes.

India and Pakistan border: Another hot spot in the world is the border area between India and Pakistan, where several wars have taken place over the Kashmir region. At the same time, both countries possess nuclear weapons - no less than 100 atomic warheads. According to experts, it is entirely possible to imagine a nuclear war scenario starting here.

China and India Border:Disagreements in the region have been brewing for a long time, but so far the atmosphere has been relatively calm. However, things could change as relations between China and Pakistan warm up.

Baltic countries:Experts say that it is here that one of the greatest dangers lies - Russia's growing ambitions towards Europe.

12. Transgender people in the US will be allowed to join the military from 2018

The Pentagon said on December 11 that it will begin the process of reviewing transgender military applications starting January 1, 2018.

The move comes after a federal judge rejected a request by the Trump administration to temporarily halt an executive order allowing transgender people to serve in the military.

U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly of the Washington Circuit refused to lift part of her October 30 order that would keep President Trump’s transgender military ban from taking effect until the case is resolved, because it could violate the U.S. Constitution’s provisions on due process and equal protection under the law.

13. The Russian Navy will conduct more than 500 exercises in 2018.

Russian Navy to conduct more than 500 exercises in 2018

On December 1, Russian Navy Commander Admiral Vladimir Korolev said that more than 500 tactical exercises at sea have been included in the Russian Navy's combat training plan for 2018.

In an interview with Russia's Red Star newspaper, Mr. Korolev added that the Russian Navy Fleet will participate in the Russia-China Joint Maritime-2018 exercises and the joint Indra-2018 exercise between Russia and India.

In addition, the Russian Navy Fleet forces will also participate in the international military games called "Army Olympics 2018," scheduled to take place from July 28 to August 11 in 2018.

14. Spain will hold elections in the Catalonia region in January 2018.

According to Reuters, on October 20, Spanish Socialist Party (PSOE) politician Carmen Calvo told reporters on national television that the Spanish government had agreed with the PSOE to hold elections in the Catalonia region in January 2018 as part of a package of special measures to temporarily impose direct rule over the region.

15. US predicts North Korea will complete ICBM by the end of 2018

Yonhap reported that on August 31, Kim Young-woo, chairman of the National Assembly's Defense Committee and a member of the opposition Bareun Party, said Admiral Harry Harris, Commander of the US Pacific Command, predicted that North Korea would complete an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) by the end of next year.

Speaking to reporters, Mr. Kim stated: "According to (North Korean leader) Kim Jong-un's vision, Pyongyang will be able to 'debut' a missile with operational nuclear capabilities within a year. Now, we are facing the biggest crisis."

According to Mr. Kim, Admiral Harris's comments were made during a recent meeting of this official in Seoul./.

Kim Ngoc

(Synthetic)