The Global Connectivity Index 2026, produced in partnership with NYU Stern University, reveals a remarkable level of stability. Global connectivity, which reached its historical peak of 25% in 2022, managed to maintain this level until 2025. For example, merchandise trade progressed faster in 2025 than in any year since 2017, excluding volatility due to Covid-19.
According to the report, this dynamic is driven by two main factors, in line with analyses shared by many institutions, including most recently the WTO. The first factor is a real “Race to Equipment” linked to artificial intelligence (AI), with AI infrastructure accounting for 42% of the growth in merchandise trade in the first three quarters of 2025. The second factor is anticipation of tariff barriers in the United States, as buyers rushed their imports for fear of new tariffs promised by Donald Trump.
As Steven A. Altman, co-author of the report and research scholar at NYU Stern, analyzes, the decoupling remains limited: only 4%-6% of global flows shifted from geopolitical rivals in a decade. “The risks are real, but the systemic resilience of the flows is equally real,” he asserts, describing globalization as a political myth.
Europe, Epicenter of Global Interconnection
Europe remains the most connected region globally, surpassing North America. Its structural strength lies mainly in deep intra-regional ties. The countries of Southern and Eastern Europe (Spain, Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania), for example, bolster this network with very close links. Europe also boasts massive international openness. For instance, Turkey plays a significant role in enhancing Europe’s position as a bridge connecting the continent to Asia and the Middle East.
This supremacy is supported by countries with complementary profiles:
– The Netherlands ranks 3rd out of 180 globally (73/100) and serves as a major gateway for global flows, with exceptional transaction volumes relative to its economy size. – The United Kingdom ranks 9th (66/100) and has the most diversified partner network globally. – Germany ranks 14th (61/100) and is a pillar of European stability, conducting two-thirds of its trades within the continent while remaining a global industrial powerhouse.
According to Mike Parra, CEO of DHL Express Europe, this integration allows companies on the continent to maintain agility in the face of shocks, leveraging a strong domestic market to seize distant opportunities.
France’s International Influence
France ranks 22nd globally with a score of 59/100. Despite climbing three places since 2023, France illustrates a structural paradox between “depth” and “breadth”. Depth measures a country’s international flows relative to its domestic economy’s size, while breadth indicates the worldwide distribution of these flows rather than concentrating narrowly.
In terms of depth, France ranks 86th globally. The percentage of international flows relative to domestic activity is considered improvable, as France still primarily consumes and produces for its domestic market. However, France excels in the geographic dispersion of its flows, not relying on a limited number of partners. It ranks 6th globally in terms of breadth.
France outperforms in influence and capital. It leads globally in the breadth of inbound mergers and acquisitions transactions and greenfield projects, as well as in online news traffic, inbound investments (FDI), and migration.
While holding the 5th largest share of total global international flows, France remains rooted in its European base: 61% of its trades are intra-regional. This strategic positioning enables France to turn global fragmentation into a shining opportunity, confirming its role as a pivot within the European Union.
