Q & A: Borge Brende

The World Economic Forum president talks with TIME editor Sam Jacobs

- Sam Jacobs

Do you think 2025 will be politically more or less stable than 2024?

We're planning our annual meeting against the most complex geopolitical backdrop in decades. I think that will continue into 2025. In a way, we are in a geopolitical recession. Fortunately, it hasn't impacted the global economy as badly as it could have. We're still expecting more than 3% growth. Provided there are no further escalations of conflicts and new crises, we have to expect that 2025 will be, similarly to 2024, a challenging geopolitical year.

What does “geopolitical recession” mean?

It means that we are in a polarized, fragmented world where we see less cooperation than in the past, and more competition. There is more focus on national interest. That is a challenge, as many of the biggest problems we face need global solutions.

This will be a critical year for the future of Europe. Where do you see the opportunities for the E.U.?