Welcome to the world of power and influence. Today, we look at the eight most dangerous world leaders. Which one has the strongest military? Who’s got the most significant economic impact?
And of course, who is the most dangerous?
Number 8: Nicolás Maduro
Coming to power through questionable circumstances, Venezuelan President, Nicolás Maduro, has led his country into a crisis. Other than the suspicious election, Maduro has also ordered crackdowns on his political rivals. Many of his rivals have fled the country. Like the man who many believe actually won the 2024 election, Edmundo González. With a collapsing economy and the country’s allies like Russia currently waging war, there’s no happy outlook for Venezuela’s future.
Number 7: Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
The President of Turkey has become increasingly authoritarian, with domestic crackdowns on opposition and straining NATO relations. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is a wild card that has increased tensions with both past and present allies alike.
Number 6: Mohammed bin Salman
Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman, controls one of the most powerful militaries in the Middle East. He is notorious for his continued involvement in the war in Yemen, the assassination of a journalist, and his influence on the global oil market.
Number 5: Ayatollah Ali Khamenei
As Iran’s supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (ha-mehnay) has shown himself to be a worrisome leader. His continued focus on nuclear development and involvement in proxy wars, coupled with the recent engagement with Israel, makes him one of the most dangerous figures in the Middle East.
Number 4: Xi Jinping
President since 2013, Xi Jinping (she jin-ping) has drastically increased China’s economic and political global presence. In addition, Xi Jinping has increased tensions with the U.S. by increasing his military and applying pressure to Taiwan and the South China Sea.
Number 3: Kim Jong-un
As the Supreme Leader of North Korea, Kim Jong-un has proven right from the start to be aggressive, and unpredictable. There’ve been several accounts of “the Supreme Leader” threatening nuclear strikes against the U.S., South Korea, and Japan.
Based on these threats and Kim Jong-un’s ability to follow through, any type of conflict with North Korea would be devastating.
Number 2: Donald Trump
Heyyy! Recently elected for a second term, U.S. President Donald Trump has begun fulfilling his threats of increased inequality and deportation of his own citizens. His hostile actions, ranging from trade wars to military involvement in the Israel-Iran conflict, have destabilized much of the geopolitical landscape. Since he’s returened to power in America, tensions with Taiwan, Iran, and North Korea have only risen.
Number 1: Vladimir Putin
The Russian President has been one of the leading dangerous figures globally for some time now. Historically, tensions between Russia and the U.S. have always been high, but now, with the current leaders in place, it’s a little more so . And don’t forget, with advanced nuclear weapons and a large geopolitical influence, Putin, like Trump, has the ability to start the next world war.
