Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh’s 2025 Outlook: A Year of Significant Transformations, Power Struggles, and the Future of the Middle East

• US-China Conflict and Its Impact on the Middle East
• The Settlement Expansionist Plans of the Zionist Occupying Entity and the Future of the Arab Region
• The Heroic Palestinian Resistance: A Model of Resilience and Victory
• Iran and the Middle East
• The International Court of Justice Ruling: A Legal Precedent against the Occupying Entity
  
  AMMAN - HE Dr. Talal Abu-Ghazaleh, the prominent Arab economist and businessman, has shared his insights on the challenges and developments the world and the Arab region may encounter in the upcoming year, following significant vicissitudes at the end of 2024. He emphasized that 2025 will be a challenging year by all standards and it will not be in favor of the Israeli enemy.

In an interview on OTV Lebanon News TV, Dr. Talal Abu-Ghazaleh, founder and chairman of Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Global (TAG.Global) has stated that the ongoing US-China conflict, and the interests of these two superpowers, are the driving forces shaping both the region and the world. He emphasized that the world today is governed by territorial expansionist ambitions as clarified by US President-elect Donald Trump's expressed desire to take over Canada, Panama, and Greenland by annexing them to the United States. In contrast, the spokesperson of China’s Ministry of National Defense labeled America as ‘an aggressive nation’, underscoring that the world can no longer live under the dominance of American hostility.

Answering a question about the situation in Syria, Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh pointed out that assessing its situation and its future is still premature. The regime has yet to stabilize, he said, and the current developments mark the beginning rather than the end, emphasizing that the country will undergo multiple phases of transformation, conflict, and cooperation. In addition to the two key players (America and China), Turkey, terrorist organizations, and the Zionist entity - which continues its occupation and expansion under the pretext of temporary expansion - will significantly affect the evolving situation.

He referred to the Zionist dreams in controlling Syria and the surrounding region, presenting the ‘Protocols of the Elders of Zion’ map, which outlines the Zionist plan of controlling all water, oil, and gas resources in the region. These ambitions go beyond the 1919 map of Syria, which included as well substantial parts of Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, and Syria.

Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh further pointed out that Zionist entity leaders are openly discussing today a new map for the Middle East and have already started expansionist plans, referring to  Trump's statement last August which says: “Is there a way to get more land for Israel, because it is small on the map compared to other countries in the Middle East?”.  

Accordingly, Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh warned that the Zionist occupation would never relinquish any land it has seized, including the Golan Heights and Mount Hermon, and that it will continue expanding. Israeli leaders, he said, claim that this region has now become an integral part of their national security, and ‘the time is ripe for annexing the West Bank’. This indicates that the decision was already made, but ‘the timing for implementation has now become appropriate’, as the ongoing conflict between the two superpowers (China and America) has created a favorable environment.

He explained that “regardless of the conspiracies made by the enemies to impose new arrangements on the region, they will not succeed in enforcing anything that contradicts history and geography. We exist, and we will remain Arab countries, and ultimately, we will prevail, although the journey and cost will be challenging.” He further explained that all these issues will be resolved when the “American and Chinese” come to the negotiation table, with the solution being determined by the principles of history and geography.

Moreover, Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh asserted that the Zionist occupier would not leave Syria or Lebanon through negotiations or by a resolution from the United Nations. He argued that occupation has never ended through diplomatic talks, highlighting that the only way to expel the enemy from Lebanese territories is through national heroism and sacrifices of the occupied people, as exemplified by the heroism of Gaza. “No one in the world will expel the occupation from Lebanon without a fight; this enemy understands only the language of power.” He said, adding that cutting off supply lines to Hezbollah does not signify the end of the party. Resistance movements in Gaza, despite lacking direct supply lines, have found alternatives and continue to resist, achieving significant victories against the Zionist enemy for over 15 months of genocidal aggression. Gaza's resistance fully understands that self-reliance is their only option and that victory is inevitable, indicating that they must create their own supply lines.

In this regard, Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh called on all Arabs to never underestimate their ability to resist, referring to the example of Gaza, which withstood and defeated the strongest armies in the region. The Occupation army, he added, failed to achieve any victory other than committing genocide against the Palestinian people.

He reiterated that the Zionist entity had already been defeated in Gaza. Despite using advanced weapons, it was unable to achieve any of its war goals, while the resistance remained steadfast, causing significant losses to the Zionist forces. The Palestinian people remained attached to their land, resisting all attempts of displacement.

Meanwhile, Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh expressed hope and optimism that the resistance in the Palestinian city, Jenin, would join the battle, believing that Jenin would play a vital role in ending the occupation. Should Jenin engage, he said, it would signify the full participation of the West Bank in the liberation battle that started on October 7.

Commenting on the importance of the International Court of Justice’s ruling on the genocide lawsuit filed by South Africa, Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh stated, “For the first time, a state has been formally charged with such an offense”. He pointed out that the irony is that establishing such a court aimed to prevent the recurrence of  the “Holocaust”, yet it is now looking into a lawsuit against the very state it was intended to safeguard. 

He also dismissed the idea that the Zionist entity has succeeded in weakening or eliminating Iran’s power. He emphasized that “Iran today is the strongest country in the region; it is an oil-rich nation, manufactures and exports weapons to Russia, and has succeeded in becoming fully independent.”

He explained that “Iran does not rely on those called its allies; rather, the allies rely on Iran, who has maintained its military, economic, technological, and nuclear power.”

Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh expressed disappointment that some Arabs believe the war is over and that the Zionist Occupier has triumphed over the region. He stated that Israel's objective is to control the Middle East and establish a new order in which the League of the Arab States becomes the League of the Middle East, with Israel as member. However, he stressed that such a scenario will never happen, as the fundamental geographical and historical facts will remain unchanged.

Regarding the possibility of a military war to take place between China and the US, Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh stated that he would not rule it out in the coming year. He highlighted that the presence of Russian warships and aircraft near Taiwan, may trigger direct military conflict, starting in Ukraine, then to the Arab region and extending to the South China Sea, noting, “Taiwan is the biggest flashpoint between China and the United States.”

He further elaborated, that “Taiwan produces 90% of the world’s most advanced computer chips that drive technological devices. If one country gains control over Taiwan, it would essentially control the entire world.”

Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh concluded by saying, “Economic challenges and difficulties will be witnessed in 2025 in all aspects, and we must be prepared. We should expect the worst-case scenarios. However, these outcomes will not be for the benefit or interest of the enemy. Ultimately, the biggest loser in this financial and economic war will be the enemy, not us.”