The security risks that haunt the world

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Roula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter.

Next week will mark the second anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24 2022. Although Russia has signally failed to achieve its war aims in Ukraine, the international security situation looks increasingly dangerous. With American support for Ukraine faltering — due to the intransigence of Republicans in Congress — there are legitimate fears that the tide of the war may soon turn in the direction of Russia. Alongside the largest land war in Europe since 1945, attendees at the Munich Security Conference over the coming days will have plenty to ponder.

In recent months, conflict has surged in the Middle East. The fiercest fighting is taking place in Gaza. But the US and its allies have also struck back against Houthi forces that were attacking shipping in the Red Sea. And there has been fighting on the Israel-Lebanon border and clashes in Syria and Iraq — underlining the risk of a broader, regional war in the Middle East. Meanwhile, 7.8 million people have been displaced by fighting in Sudan — with the UN warning of a possible famine.

Security concerns are rising in east Asia too — with renewed speculation about the possible warlike intentions of Kim Jong Un, the leader of North Korea. One piece of relative good news is that tensions between China and the US have eased a little since the meeting between Xi Jinping and Joe Biden in San Francisco in November. Nonetheless, the underlying strategic rivalry between the US and China remains intense — with legitimate fears that the two countries remain on a collision course. China also continues to harass neighbouring countries with which it has territorial disputes — including the Philippines and Japan.

As they seek to make the case for greater military spending and preparedness, western politicians are issuing increasingly dark warnings. Grant Shapps,…