Dhaka, Feb. 17 -- Amid growing geopolitical tensions and rising economic uncertainty, many governments are no longer focusing on the absolute benefits of global cooperation, but are increasingly concerned that they are gaining less than others, according to Munich Security Report 2024.

Prioritizing relative payoffs may well spur lose-lose dynamics - jeopardizing cooperation and undermining an order that, despite its obvious flaws, can still help grow the proverbial pie for the benefit of all, said the report in its Executive Summary.

The transatlantic partners and like-minded states now face a difficult balancing act.

On the one hand, they have to brace for a much more competitive geopolitical environment, where relative-gains thinking...