Superpower rivalry and geopolitics in Trump 2.0

How does the superpower rivalry between the US and China dictate international relations more broadly? And what does it mean for the future of trade, security and development?   Lyunn Kuok, Lee Kuan Yew, Chair in Southeast Asia Studies at the Brookings Institution, and a member of the Forum's Global Future Council on Geopolitics, analyses the state of the global relations almost a year into the second Donald Trump presidency.   This episode is a collaboration between the World Economic Forum's weekly Radio Davos and Beyond the Headlines, the flagship current affairs podcast of The National, the Middle East's leading English-language newspaper. It was recorded at the Forum's Annual Meetings of the Global Future Councils and Cybersecurity in Dubai on 15 October, 2025. It is co-hosted by Mina Al-Oraibi, The National's Editor-in-Chief. Watch a video version of this podcast on our YouTube channel: https://wef.ch/43bySEO   Links: Network of Global Future Councils: https://initiatives.weforum.org/global-future-council Global Future Council on Geopolitics: https://initiatives.weforum.org/global-future-council-on-geopolitics Annual Meetings of the Global Future Councils and Cybersecurity 2025: https://www.weforum.org/meetings/annual-meetings-of-the-global-future-councils-and-cybersecurity-2025/ The National: https://www.thenationalnews.com/   Related podcasts: Beyond the Headlines podcast: https://www.thenationalnews.com/podcasts/beyond-the-headlines/ Related Radio Davos episodes: We have entered the age of "persistent disruption" - Visa's Wayne Best on the Chief Economists Outlook: https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/radio-davos/episodes/chief-economists-outlook-visa-wayne-best/ "New era, new mood, new challenges" - historian Adam Tooze on why things will never be the same again: https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/radio-davos/episodes/adam-tooze-cnbc-china-us-history/ Check out all World Economic Forum podcasts on wef.ch/podcasts:  YouTube: - https://www.youtube.com/@wef/podcasts Radio Davos - subscribe: https://pod.link/1504682164 Meet the Leader - subscribe: https://pod.link/1534915560 Agenda Dialogues - subscribe: https://pod.link/1574956552 Join the World Economic Forum Podcast Club: https://www.facebook.com/groups/wefpodcastclub          

We all rely on nature to survive - but humans continue to destroy and degrade the environment to an extent that puts our own species at risk Nature conservationist Marco Lambertini puts the case for going 'nature positive' - getting companies and countries to account for their impact on nature and find ways to conserve and restore more than they destroy. Links: Nature Positive Initiative: https://www.naturepositive.org/ World Economic Forum's New Nature Economy reports: https://www.weforum.org/publications/series/new-nature-economy/ World Economic Forum's Bioeconomic Initiative: https://initiatives.weforum.org/bioeconomy-initiative/home Alliance of CEO Climate Leaders: https://initiatives.weforum.org/alliance-of-ceo-climate-leaders Alliance of CEOs for Nature: https://initiatives.weforum.org/ceo-alliance/home Related podcasts: "All of this is teamwork" - how 'industrial clusters' are accelerating the energy transition: http://wef.ch/4h0W7aa Are we on track for the energy transition? Insights from three CEOs: http://wef.ch/4nyDxIZ Ocean: how David Attenborough's new film will transform how you see Earth: http://wef.ch/4729DHk Check out all our podcasts on wef.ch/podcasts:  YouTube: - https://www.youtube.com/@wef/podcasts Radio Davos - subscribe: https://pod.link/1504682164 Meet the Leader - subscribe: https://pod.link/1534915560 Agenda Dialogues - subscribe: https://pod.link/1574956552 Join the World Economic Forum Podcast Club: https://www.facebook.com/groups/wefpodcastclub  

The transition to net-zero is a daunting challenge for any industry - but what if diverse sectors can help each other speed up progress? That's what can happen in an 'industrial cluster'. In the episode we hear from two such clusters - the Port of Antwerp-Bruges in Belgium and the Andalusia Green Hydrogen Valley in Spain - just two of the more than 35 industrial clusters around the world, supported by the World Economic Forum's Transitioning Industrial Clusters (TIC) initiative, to drive economic growth, employment and cut greenhouse gas emissions. And we speak to the head of the Mission Possible Partnership - an organisation that works to advance the energy transition in industry which also puts a strong emphasis on industry clusters or 'clean industrial hubs'. Episode page with transcript: http://wef.ch/46rZO3T Links: Transitioning Industrial Clusters: https://initiatives.weforum.org/transitioning-industrial-clusters/home Mission Possible Partnership: https://www.missionpossiblepartnership.org/ Port of Antwerp-Bruges: https://www.portofantwerpbruges.com/en Andalusia Green Hydrogen Valley: https://www.moeveglobal.com/en/businesses/commercial-clean-energies/green-hydrogen/andalusian-valley Related podcasts: How to nudge heavy industry to sustainability: the First Movers Coalition: https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/radio-davos/episodes/fmc-concrete-cement/ Can aviation ever be sustainable? Here are some paths to net zero: https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/radio-davos/episodes/aviation-day-airports-sustainable-fuel-saf/ Climate science is clearer than ever. How should companies respond?: https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/radio-davos/episodes/climate-science-policy-business-response/ Check out all our podcasts on wef.ch/podcasts:  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@wef Radio Davos - subscribe: https://pod.link/1504682164 Meet the Leader - subscribe: https://pod.link/1534915560 Agenda Dialogues - subscribe: https://pod.link/1574956552 Join the World Economic Forum Podcast Club: https://www.facebook.com/groups/wefpodcastclub

One of the main things needed to achieve net zero that is to transform how we produce and consume energy. In this podcast, CEOs of three very different companies on the front lines of the energy transition around the world assess where the energy transition is now, and what the future may look like. Speakers: Christian Bruch, CEO, Siemens Energy Andrés Gluski, CEO, AES Corporation Lei Zhang, CEO, Envision Group Co-host: Charles Bourgault manager, electricity industry, World Economic Forum Episode page with transcript: https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/radio-davos/episodes/energy-transition-electrification-siemens-aes-envision Related podcasts: Climate science is clearer than ever. How should companies respond? Getting sustainable, secure and equitable power to the people - how's the global energy transition going? Energy Transition: Amping Up or Powering Down? All Hands on Deck for the Energy Transition Check out all our podcasts on wef.ch/podcasts:  YouTube: - https://www.youtube.com/@wef/podcasts Radio Davos - subscribe: https://pod.link/1504682164 Meet the Leader - subscribe: https://pod.link/1534915560 Agenda Dialogues - subscribe: https://pod.link/1574956552 Join the World Economic Forum Podcast Club: https://www.facebook.com/groups/wefpodcastclub  

Electronic devices that tap into a human's nervous system have been around for decades, for example to help paralysed people move and deaf people hear. Now, a new generation of neurotechnology promises to revolutionise treatments for a range of conditions that afflict billions of people. We look at the benefits and assess the risks with Jen French, a campaigner for access to neurotechnlolgy who has been using a device for 25 years since a snowboarding accident made her quadriplegic. And Tom Oxley, the CEO of neurotech startup Synchron, explains how 'brain computer interfaces' are giving paralysed patients the ability to use computers and smart phones.  They also address concerns about things such as data privacy, unequal access to health tech, and device 'abandonment'. Episode page with transcript: http://wef.ch/46Tt4Rm Watch the video version here: https://youtu.be/KmIMQVUdHBc Links: Network of Global Future Councils: https://initiatives.weforum.org/global-future-council/ Related podcasts: 'We have the most to benefit, but also the most to lose': how AI could transform human health:  Check out all our podcasts on wef.ch/podcasts:  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@wef Radio Davos - subscribe: https://pod.link/1504682164 Meet the Leader - subscribe: https://pod.link/1534915560 Agenda Dialogues - subscribe: https://pod.link/1574956552

The global economy is moving from experiencing "episodic shocks" to "a new operating regime, one that is defined now by persistent disruption." So says Wayne Best, chief economist at Visa, as he gives his take on the Chief Economists Outlook, the World Economic Forum's regular pulse check of the world economy and where it is headed. Episode page with transcript: https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/radio-davos/episodes/chief-economists-outlook-visa-wayne-best Links: Chief Economists Outlook: wef.ch/chiefeconsept25 Related podcasts: "New era, new mood, new challenges" - historian Adam Tooze on why things will never be the same again "Trillions of dollars added to the economy" - Google's chief economist on the macro impact of AI The global economy 'at a crossroads' ahead of Davos: Chief Economists Outlook Check out all our podcasts on wef.ch/podcasts:  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@wef Radio Davos - subscribe: https://pod.link/1504682164 Meet the Leader - subscribe: https://pod.link/1534915560 Agenda Dialogues - subscribe: https://pod.link/1574956552 Join the World Economic Forum Podcast Club: https://www.facebook.com/groups/wefpodcastclub    

How can you keep up with the rapidly changing skills needed in a job market being transformed by artificial intelligence? Kian Katanforoosh, founder of tech startup Workera, has advice for all of us on how to ensure we are 'AI-ready'. Episode page with transcript: https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/radio-davos/episodes/ai-skills-workera-kian-katanforoosh Related podcasts: Stock markets and supermarkets: how business is deploying AI: https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/radio-davos/episodes/ai-financial-services-consumer-goods-industries/ Beyond the hype, how industries are deploying AI at the heart of their operations: https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/radio-davos/episodes/ai-industries-in-the-intelligent-age/ Check out all our podcasts on wef.ch/podcasts:  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@wef Radio Davos - subscribe: https://pod.link/1504682164 Meet the Leader - subscribe: https://pod.link/1534915560 Agenda Dialogues - subscribe: https://pod.link/1574956552 Join the World Economic Forum Podcast Club: https://www.facebook.com/groups/wefpodcastclub

Around the world, people are developing low-emissions technologies - but they can only succeed if there is market demand. In this episode, we hear how the First Movers Coalition helps create that market by getting big companies to invest in emerging technologies that aim to de-carbonise the 'hard to abate' sectors. And we meet the buyer and seller of low-emissions cement doing just that. Speakers: Noam Boussidan, Programme Head, First Movers Coalition Julia Fidler, Head of Materials and Fuels Decarbonisation, Microsoft Joe Hicken, Senior Vice President of Business Development and Policy, Sublime Systems Links: First Movers Coalition: https://initiatives.weforum.org/first-movers-coalition/home Check out all our podcasts on wef.ch/podcasts:  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@wef Radio Davos - subscribe: https://pod.link/1504682164 Meet the Leader - subscribe: https://pod.link/1534915560 Agenda Dialogues - subscribe: https://pod.link/1574956552 Join the World Economic Forum Podcast Club: https://www.facebook.com/groups/wefpodcastclub

The European Union is implementing a 'Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism' (CBAM) that will levy a fee on importing certain goods that are produced in countries that lack regulations forcing producers to cut their greenhouse gas emissions. It's an idea that other countries are considering, but is also hugely complex and may be challenged by exporter countries. Two expert guests explain the policy and its implications for business and global trade. Speakers: Aaron Cosbey, Senior Associate, International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) Dandy Rafitrandi, researcher at the Department of Economics, Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), Indonesia Kimberley Botwright, Head, Sustainable Trade, World Economic Forum (co-host) Links: World Economic Forum Centre for Regions, Trade and Geopolitics: https://centres.weforum.org/centre-for-regions-trade-and-geopolitics/home Emissions in trade: Where are they and how do we measure them?: https://www.weforum.org/stories/2025/03/emissions-in-trade-how-we-measure-them/ CBAM: What you need to know about the new EU decarbonization incentive: https://www.weforum.org/stories/2022/12/cbam-the-new-eu-decarbonization-incentive-and-what-you-need-to-know/ What future for climate and trade? Scenarios and strategies for carbon competitiveness?: https://www.weforum.org/publications/what-future-for-climate-and-trade-scenarios-and-strategies-for-carbon-competitiveness/ Countries must deal with imported emissions in a fair and flexible way: https://www.climatechangenews.com/2025/08/27/countries-must-deal-with-imported-emissions-in-a-fair-and-flexible-way/ European Commission on CBAM: https://trade.ec.europa.eu/access-to-markets/en/news/carbon-border-adjustment-mechanism-cbam International Institute for Sustainable Development: https://www.iisd.org/ Centre for Strategic and International Studies: https://www.csis.or.id/ Podcasts: Climate science is clearer than ever. How should companies respond?: https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/radio-davos/episodes/climate-science-policy-business-response/ It was 'no deal' on a global plastics treaty - so what happens now?: https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/radio-davos/episodes/plastics-treaty-inc5-gpap/ Tariffs, globalization, and democracy, with Harvard economist Dani Rodrik: https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/radio-davos/episodes/dani-rodrik-economics-globalization-tariffs/ The global economy 'at a crossroads' ahead of Davos: Chief Economists Outlook: https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/radio-davos/episodes/chief-economists-outlook-ralph-ossa-wto/   Check out all our podcasts on wef.ch/podcasts:  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@wef Radio Davos - subscribe: https://pod.link/1504682164 Meet the Leader - subscribe: https://pod.link/1534915560 Agenda Dialogues - subscribe: https://pod.link/1574956552 Join the World Economic Forum Podcast Club: https://www.facebook.com/groups/wefpodcastclub

Welcome to this bonus episode of Radio Davos. A few episodes ago we interviewed author and historian Adam Tooze about geopolitics. Adam has his own podcast, Ones & Tooze, published by Foreign Policy where he is also a columnist. We thought we would pop an episode on the Radio Davos feed so you can take a listen. In this episode, Adam and his co-host Foreign Policy deputy editor Cameron Abadi, look at the state of global development. Radio Davos will be back very soon, in the meantime enjoy this episode of Ones and Tooze. Ones and Tooze show notes: Whither Global Development Some 10 years ago, the United Nations came up with its Sustainable Development Goals, a series of objectives for the world around alleviating poverty and protecting the planet. But these days, it's clear that very few of those goals will be met by the target date of 2030. What happened? And what does the Trump administration's retreat from international development mean for the world?  On this episode of Ones and Tooze, a weekly economics podcast from Foreign Policy magazine, hosts Adam Tooze and Cameron Abadi dig in. New episodes of Ones and Tooze are released every Friday. Follow the show on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ones-and-tooze/id1584397047 https://open.spotify.com/show/44pekawcpIJ7KgwcFIgZDr https://foreignpolicy.com/podcasts/ones-and-tooze/   World Economic Forum podcasts: Check out all our podcasts on wef.ch/podcasts:  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@wef Radio Davos - subscribe: https://pod.link/1504682164 Meet the Leader - subscribe: https://pod.link/1534915560 Agenda Dialogues - subscribe: https://pod.link/1574956552 Join the World Economic Forum Podcast Club: https://www.facebook.com/groups/wefpodcastclub