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The 8 biggest global threats to watch in 2018

President Donald Trump may have to handle some of these crises next year.

Now, with 2017 coming to a close, many people are wondering what 2018's biggest global threats will be.

The Council on Foreign Relations recently released their list of the top global threats to watch in 2018 and it covers brewing crises around the world.

CFR asked

President Donald Trump may have to handle some of these crises next year. See the biggest threats here:

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Military conflict involving the US, North Korea, and its neighboring countries

Not surprisingly, North Korea tops the list.

With Kim Jong Un showing no signs at all of slowing down his missile program, and his increasingly brazen missile tests and strong rhetoric warning of total destruction, the situation on the Korean Peninsula has probably never been this tense since the 1950's.

An armed confrontation between Iran and the US or one of its allies.

CFR cites Iran’s involvement in regional conflicts and support of militant proxy groups, including the Yemeni Houthis and Lebanese Hezbollah, as a potential source of a confrontation.

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Coupled with Iran's recent announcement that it will support

A highly disruptive cyberattack on US critical infrastructure and networks.

Not surprisingly, the CFR believes that cyber attacks against the US require the utmost attention.

This year saw cyber attacks from Iran, North Korea, and Russia against targets like government agencies, banks, and militaries all around the world, and with the NSA coming under a number of high-profile attacks this year, cyber attacks will be something to look out for

A military confrontation between Russia and NATO members.

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A confrontation between Russia and NATO members, either deliberate or unintended, never stopped being possible.

Just this year, Russia's has quietly expanded the border of the unrecognized Republic of South Ossetia illegally, and continues to foment the war in Ukraine's Donbas region that has killed over 10,000 people.

Though these are non-NATO countries, some fear it is only a matter of time before Russia tries to see what it can get away with in Eastern Europe — especially since Syria will no longer be the Russian military's biggest focus.

An armed confrontation over disputed maritime areas in the South China Sea.

The South China Sea continues to be an area where tensions are high.

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CFR believes that conflict between China and one or more of Southeast Asia's claimants to numerous islands — like Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, or Vietnam — is not something to be dismissed.

Recently, China has become increasingly aggressive against Taiwan — both in terms of actions and rhetoric. It has also worried Japan as well.

A mass casualty terrorist attack on the US homeland or a treaty ally.

These types of attacks happened a lot this year, especially in Europe. The US also saw a number of terror attacks as well.

CFR notes that the terrorist could be either one-wolf style attacks, where the perpetrator has no connection to terrorist organizations apart from an appreciation of the ideology, could also be cause for concern.

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This happened as recently as this week with the attempted pipe bombing in New York City.

Intensified violence in Syria as government forces attempt to regain control over territory.

Though the Syrian Civil War seems like it is in an ending phase, with ISIS losing almost all of its territory, it is important to remember that the fight against ISIS was only one part of a war that has killed hundreds of thousands.

CFR notes there are still

What will happen when the Syrian Arab Army tries to defeat rebels in other parts of the country, as well as what will the Syrian government do about the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces, is unknown, as is a potential US response would be to hostilities.

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Increased violence and instability in Afghanistan.

CFR is specifically worried about the increasingly strong Taliban insurgency and a potential collapse of the Afghan government. ISIS has also recently made its mark in the country.

The Trump administration appears concerned about developments there and is redeploying thousands of troops to Afghanistan.

Time will tell if the Trump administration's efforts will help, or just put off a collapse of the Afghan government.

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