Forecast the next 25 years...

Forecasting world events is a difficult task that takes guts and discipline. Though you can find endless scenarios in a number of places, Stratfor – the same people that predicted, in 2002, the EU crisis; and in 2010, the U.S.-Iranian negotiations – focuses on countries’ constraints, which eliminates the impossibilities down to a likely path.

Here are a few things we see ahead by 2039:

• The United States will continue to be the leading economic power.
• Conflict in the Middle East will continue, but the United States will take a much more hands-off approach in the region.
• German and Russian interests will align, trading natural gas and technology, and could potentially threaten Washington's global strategy.
• Mexico will become an industrial powerhouse by taking low-level production from China and monetizing its energy sector.
• China will continue to face more internal tension and slower economic growth.

Even though our forecasts might not coincide with popular belief, we use a proven methodology that is based on a sober, geopolitical understanding – how geography, economics, politics and technology intersect to shape international relations. When combined with a deep appreciation of history and intelligence collected from all around the globe, our analysts emerge with an understanding of what must happen, rather than whatmay. This is forecasting at Stratfor.