Former UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has described the current global landscape as “some of the most dangerous times in living memory,” while simultaneously highlighting its transformative potential, in his regular column for Times UK. Writing under the headline, “Trump’s new world is dangerous but brings opportunity,” Sunak warns that the international order is shifting in ways that will profoundly affect the United Kingdom and its allies.
Sunak reflects on recent domestic politics, noting the waning relevance of traditional New Year speeches. “One tradition we should not mourn the passing of is the prime minister’s new year speech,” he writes. Designed to demonstrate government initiative, Sunak says the speeches have become hollow, often dictated by the pressures of the season rather than bold policy intentions. He contrasts this with Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer’s extended interview approach, which he notes was largely overshadowed by global events.
The former prime minister paints a stark picture of the international stage, pointing to the end of Pax Americana and the emergence of credible challengers to U.S. dominance, particularly China. Sunak cites data showing that in 2020, China surpassed 70 percent of U.S. GDP — a level no nation had reached in a century — and warns that the U.S., under a so-called Trump 2.0 administration, is altering its own global role. He criticizes recent U.S. actions, including threats toward Greenland, as indicative of a country more interested in unilateral power than alliance leadership.
Sunak also highlights the growing coordination among authoritarian states including China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea. He points to a 246 percent increase in sabotage attacks in Europe in 2024 and ongoing assaults on undersea communications infrastructure as signs of a rapidly changing security environment. At the same time, economic power is shifting globally: Europe is in relative decline, while India and Gulf states are emerging as influential swing nations.
Despite the risks, Sunak emphasizes that technological advances offer a pathway to economic resilience and national strength. He points to breakthroughs in artificial intelligence, nuclear fusion, quantum computing, and biotechnology, arguing that these innovations could transform economies and societies in ways comparable to the industrial revolution. “AI is a general-purpose technology…that has the potential to transform every part of the economy,” he writes, citing the unprecedented pace of adoption exemplified by ChatGPT reaching 100 million users within two months.
The column calls for the United Kingdom to strengthen both its hard and economic power. Sunak advocates for increased defence spending, closer to four percent of GDP, and for domestic investment in technology and skills to maintain global competitiveness. He concludes with a stark warning: without decisive action, nations risk being “dictated to by events — rather than shaping them.”
