The biggest geopolitical winners and losers of 2024

The largest war in Europe since World War II continued in Ukraine for the third year .

At the same time, a series of escalations between Israel and the so-called " Axis of Resistance " completely upended the existing order in the Middle East .

Here are the biggest geopolitical winners and losers of 2024 : Turkey , Israel , Iran and the Houthis .

The Houthis’s victories have won them plaudits from the Islamic world and anti-Israel groups, even winning some sympathy from a few leftist figures in the U.S. They enter 2025 with their prestige at an all-time high, a sole bright point for Iran and the "Axis of Resistance ".

Russia surpassed U.S. analysts’ expectations, making significant gains in the year's second half after a predicted stalemate.

Despite heavy losses, the Russian Army has transformed itself since the stumbles of the initial invasion into a far more capable force.

The Russian economy also weathered the massive sanctions for a third straight year , once again outperforming expectations.

Meanwhile, Ukraine suffered from manpower and equipment shortages, plummeting morale, and the waning of international interest.