How did the world change in 2018?

2017 is drawing to a close, and the world has changed dramatically compared to the previous 12 months.

The Military and Defense section of Business Insider has just released its predictions for 2018. According to them, US President Donald Trump and many other leaders will have many more decisions to make, and the world will continue to face many crises.

Mr. Trump continues to hold onto his position.

US President Donald Trump. (Photo: AP)

President Trump will remain firmly in power in 2018. Everyone, from his campaign leader and national security advisor to his son-in-law, may be embroiled in scandal, but he will still hold the position of Commander-in-Chief of the United States.

The US and North Korea will not fall into a large-scale war.

Both the US and North Korea would lose a great deal if they went to war. Both sides could achieve a peaceful resolution without resorting to force.

Trump will continue his "maximum pressure" approach with North Korea. Conversely, North Korea will conduct further nuclear or ballistic missile tests. International diplomats will continue to condemn these actions, but ultimately, war will not break out.

Small-scale incidents are still possible. For example, the U.S. could surround a North Korean ship, or thwart a North Korean missile test. North Korea could shell uninhabited areas of South Korea, abduct more U.S. and South Korean citizens, or launch cyberattacks. But war will not happen.

Putin will win the election.

It is fairly certain that Russian President Vladimir Putin will win the election in March 2018.

Russian President Vladimir Putin. (Photo: Reuters)

Trump announces Middle East peace plan.

There are many obstacles hindering the U.S. president's Middle East peace plan. Israel continues to build settlements and shows no sign of stopping. The Palestinians will either include the Hamas militant group or remain divided into rival factions.

President Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel means he has no proposal for the Palestinian leadership to work towards establishing a state with East Jerusalem as its capital.

A peace plan would have to address a multitude of issues. Therefore, even if it were announced by the unofficial deadline in early 2018, Trump's plan would likely not lead anywhere.

Peace has come to Syria.

Syria's civil war, which has lasted nearly seven years, will find a political solution in 2018.

Opponents of President Bashar al-Assad will raise the banner of unity to a satisfactory degree. Russia, Iran, and Türkiye have big plans for Syria's future, while the US seems unlikely to be satisfied with most of the essential negotiations.

With the Islamic State (IS) losing territory in Iraq and Syria, the US will have little left to do in Syria. The previous administration wanted to help shape Syria's future, but for President Trump, this is a good opportunity to fulfill his campaign promise of non-intervention.

Mohammed bin Salman will continue the reconstruction of Saudi Arabia.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has had a breakthrough year, not only rebuilding the country he will lead, but also consolidating his own power in an unprecedented way.

In 2017, the 32-year-old Crown Prince launched an anti-corruption campaign that impacted a range of clerics, business leaders, and powerful members of the Royal Family. He spearheaded a modernization push, eradicated Islamic extremism, reformed the economy, changed the culture, and reversed the ban on women driving.

In 2018, Saudi Arabia will undoubtedly continue this trend. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman will be the focal point of the world's perception of Saudi Arabia.

ISIS will continue its attacks.

Despite being severely damaged, IS will continue to carry out small-scale attacks worldwide by mobilizing supporters and fleeing remnants of its ranks.

IS is likely to transform into a network of smaller branches. Europe is at greater risk of attacks, while Southeast Asia, particularly Malaysia, may see increased activity from the group.

According to VNN