World Affairs And Beyond

We are taught to believe that war is born from ancient hatreds, religious differences or territorial disputes. We are told that nations go to war to defend freedom or stop tyranny. But beneath the patriotic rhetoric, there is another layer; economics. War is not only fought on battlefields. It is also reflected in oil markets, defence contracts and stock exchanges. When geopolitical stability is disrupted, markets react. Oil prices rise when supply is threatened. Defence companies can receive new contracts when governments increase military spending. Investors move money into assets that may benefit from uncertainty. For some people, war is therefore not only a human catastrophe. It is also an economic event. During the 2026 Iran war, U.S. oil companies including Exxon Mobil and Chevron reached record stock-market values as fears surrounding Middle Eastern energy supplies pushed oil prices higher. By July, Chevron reported $12.1 billion in quarterly earnings, its largest quarterly net ...