PARIS — From the return of Donald Trump to the White House to a historic Gaza ceasefire and the explosive rise of artificial intelligence, 2025 delivered extraordinary geopolitical shocks, social uprisings, and dramatic world events. Here are 10 defining moments that shaped the year.
1. Trump’s Second Term Reshapes America
President Donald Trump began his second term in January, launching sweeping changes across the federal government. His administration pushed aggressive anti-immigration actions, expanded mass deportations, dismantled diversity programs, and deployed the National Guard in several Democratic-led cities.
Trump also ramped up global diplomacy, though often with mixed or polarizing results, while local election losses left Republicans anxious ahead of the 2026 midterms.
2. A Fragile Gaza Ceasefire
With heavy U.S. pressure, Israel and Hamas agreed to a long-awaited ceasefire, ending two years of devastation in Gaza. The truce allowed hostage returns and increased humanitarian access, though aid groups say conditions remain dire.
Tensions flared as Israel struck Hamas and Hezbollah targets, and launched a major operation against Iran’s nuclear sites during a brief June war.
3. Ukraine Peace Efforts Stall
Trump sought to broker a deal to end the war in Ukraine, but negotiations repeatedly collapsed. He berated Volodymyr Zelensky in February and later hosted Vladimir Putin in Alaska for a summit that ended abruptly.
Ukraine and the U.S. eventually resumed talks using a draft peace plan viewed by Kyiv and Europe as overly favorable to Moscow, even as Russian forces continued grinding advances.
4. A Global Trade War
Trump imposed sweeping tariffs on steel, aluminum, copper and other strategic imports. Retaliation from trading partners sparked a global dispute that rattled markets.
Washington reached partial agreements with the EU and China, but talks with Mexico dragged on and negotiations with Canada froze. Facing voter frustration over high prices, Trump rolled back tariffs on key food imports in November.
5. A New American Pope
On May 8, Robert Francis Prevost, a Chicago-born cardinal, became Pope Leo XIV, the first American to lead the Catholic Church.
He embraced themes central to Pope Francis — support for migrants, the poor, and environmental stewardship — while reassuring conservatives by pausing moves on women’s ordination and same-sex marriage recognition.
6. Gen Z Protest Movements Rise
Youth-led uprisings erupted across Asia, Africa and Latin America, fighting corruption, censorship and collapsing living standards.
Some achieved victories — leaders in Madagascar and Nepal were ousted — while others faced severe crackdowns, especially in Morocco and Tanzania.
7. The AI Investment Explosion
Global spending on artificial intelligence hit $1.5 trillion, with projections for $2 trillion in 2026.
Nvidia briefly topped a $5 trillion valuation as hype surged, but fears of an AI bubble and lawsuits over AI-generated harm and copyright violations grew louder.
8. The Daring Louvre Heist
Thieves wearing worker vests infiltrated the Louvre Museum using a ladder and escaped on scooters with €88 million in crown jewels.
Three suspects were arrested, but the jewels remain missing, sparking global debate over museum security.
9. U.S. Strikes Target Drug Vessels Near Venezuela
The U.S. conducted more than 20 air and naval strikes against suspected drug-smuggling boats in the Caribbean and Pacific.
Venezuela accused Washington of using anti-drug operations as a pretext to destabilize President Nicolás Maduro. The U.S. has offered a $50 million reward for Maduro’s capture.
10. Record-Breaking Extreme Weather
Climate-fueled disasters intensified worldwide.
Hurricane Melissa devastated the Caribbean, while Asia suffered a series of super typhoons. Europe saw its worst wildfires in decades, and Vietnam endured catastrophic floods and landslides.
