What decent people hope for in 2026

Pantelis Ikonomou, a former IAEA inspector, writes:
The recent words of Nobel peace laureate Mohamed ElBaradei, my former boss and Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), are sounding an alarm:

Geopolitical developments are leading to the steady crumbling, if not outright demolition, of the international architecture for maintaining peace and security. Major nuclear-weapon states are casting aside international and humanitarian law, democratic values, and international institutions as they pursue unilateral action.

The untouchables

Indeed, the leading two nuclear powers, Russia and the US, act unilaterally as they see fit. Cases in point include the Russian invasion of sovereign Ukraine in February 2022, the US bombing of Iran’s nuclear facilities controlled by the IAEA in June 2025, the US bombing of Nigeria on this past Christmas day and recently, the US strikes on sovereign Venezuela and the kidnapping of its president by elite American commandos.

A decisive factor in the superpowers’ violent lawlessness is the military strength based actually on the catastrophic capacity of their nuclear arsenals. The associated nuclear deterrence makes their leaders feel untouchable.

The message

For the modernization of their weapons, the nuclear superpowers invest exorbitant sums of money, consuming precious resources. They ruthlessly spread violence, pain, and blood while ignoring
fundamental human needs and rights. Already threatened, humanity’s risks increase. Peace and security are sacrificed on the altar of self-serving and mercenary purposes. Instead, the superpower leaders satisfy their vain chauvinism and the interests of military-industrial oligarchies.

This behavior sends a message. If you want the absolute guarantee of security, you must own the nuclear bomb. Moreover, if you own it, you can violently and with impunity seek any ends you might wish.

2025 was geopolitically a disastrous year. Humanity now lives in growing chaos, with no vision or worthy leadership. Global peace and security are in free fall, while decent people worldwide hope for
a change in course during the new year 2026.