2025: Global Diplomacy Navigates Conflicts, Truces, and a Looming Trump Shadow

• 2025 saw global leaders manage crises through summitry and cautious de-escalation, but major conflicts persisted in Europe, West Asia, and Africa.
• A potential second Donald Trump presidency cast a significant shadow, influencing multilateral engagement and security diplomacy, including a US boycott of the G20.
• G7 summit in Canada focused on Ukraine support, climate, and security, backing Trump's Gaza plan; G20 in South Africa faced US and other leader absences.
• ASEAN, under Malaysia, expanded with Timor-Leste and strengthened partnerships, with Trump attending to formalize Thailand-Cambodia truce.
• Key diplomatic truces emerged (DRC-Rwanda, Armenia-Azerbaijan, Cambodia-Thailand, US-China trade, Israel-Hamas), offering stability without full resolution.

Why It Matters: 2025 was a year of managed global crises, diplomatic efforts, and persistent conflicts, often under Trump's influence.