Russia's war with Ukraine is about to enter yet another winter. Meanwhile in the US, Donald Trump is turning his attention to Russia's southern border in an effort to woo the nations of the South Caucasus with diplomacy. What are the US' goals and what does it hope to gain in pulling these nations closer while Russia is distracted in its fight against NATO to the West? Talking Geopolitics host Christian Smith is joined by GPF Chairman George Friedman to make sense of the latest developments. And for more analysis of the region, go to https://geopoliticalfutures.com/gpf-newsletter/ to get access to our free newsletter as well as our NEW special report: Reviving NATO's Eastern Line, by GPF Senior Analyst Antonia Colibasanu. This report is available for a limited time.
The Australian defense minister said this week that China's military defense build up required a response. China's defense spending has increased 13 fold in the past 30 years, while its Navy is projected to grow by nearly 50% by the end of the decade. That last statistic would be of particular concern to Australia's defense minister, Richard Marles, who said that open sea lanes, including around China, are crucial to Australia's national security. So how is great power competition playing out in the Asia-Pacific? What is the role of Australia, AUKUS and the Quad, and can America's allies trust the US and its nuclear umbrella to be there as it seeks to disengage from the world. Host Christian Smith is with GPF Chairman George Friedman to discuss this and much more. Visit http://www.geopoliticalfutures.com for world-class geopolitical analysis and discussion.
The United States, China and Russia are the three main powers of the current era that are vying for dominance on the global stage, all with their own sets of imperatives and challenges. In our recent ClubGPF live discussion, GPF Chairman George Friedman examined the three nations and the main issues they currently face: culture wars and political division in the US, a declining economy in China, and a frozen war in Russia. Visit http://www.geopoliticalfutures.com for world-class geopolitical analysis and discussion.
"Twelve out of ten." That's how President Trump described this week's meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping—a bold rating for one of the most consequential diplomatic encounters in years. But what really came out of it? Was this the start of a new trade understanding or just another pause in a brewing confrontation between two global powers? In this episode of Talking Geopolitics, host Christian Smith is joined by GPF Chairman George Friedman, speaking from The Citadel in South Carolina, where he's a keynote speaker at an open-source intelligence conference. They unpack the U.S.–China meeting - from tariffs to rare earths -, the fragile economics behind Beijing's export-driven model, and how these developments connect to Friedman's long-term forecast from his book The Next 100 Years. Visit http://www.geopoliticalfutures.com for world-class geopolitical analysis and discussion.
In recent weeks, tensions between the US and Venezuela have been growing. Several US military strikes have targeted boats in the Caribbean allegedly carrying illicit drugs, and US President Donald Trump has said that he has authorized the CIA to use lethal force in Venezuela. And the issue doesn't end there, now there is wider involvement from Europe and elsewhere. GPF Chairman George Friedman joined host Christian Smith on this episode of Talking Geopolitics to dive into what's really going on, how it ties into the Monroe Doctrine - the policy relating to affairs in the Western Hemisphere - and what Russia's role in all of it is. Visit http://www.geopoliticalfutures.com for world-class geopolitical analysis and discussion.
As GPF Chairman George Friedman has written about in recent months, the United States is trying to reduce its exposure in foreign conflicts. With the US now entering its third week of a government shutdown, the nation has its own set of crises to work through, while Trump is also working to broker peace in Gaza and a trade agreement with China. How does the current situation fit within the framework of institutional and socioeconomic cycles, as described in George's most recent book, The Storm Before the Calm? And where does President Trump fit into it all? Host Christian Smith is back on the podcast with Dr. Friedman to discuss the US and the historic shifts of the 2020s. Visit www.geopoliticalfutures.com for world-class geopolitical analysis and discussion. There you'll also find George's new series on the 2020s and Its Historic Shift, including his updated forecast for Poland, Turkey and Japan.
Two years ago this week, Hamas' October 7 attacks stunned Israel and the world. And now for the first time there is palpable excitement that the war in Gaza may be on the path to an end. The first part of Donald Trump's Gaza peace plan seems to have been agreed by Israel and Hamas, though the plan still faces many hurdles. Geopolitical Futures Chairman and Founder George Friedman has joined host Christian Smith on this week's episode of Talking Geopolitics to discuss how we got here, whether the plan will work and also why the Gulf states are so important to the plan's success. This interview was recorded on Thursday, October 9th 2025. Visit http://www.geopoliticalfutures.com for world-class geopolitical analysis and discussion.
In his 2009 book, The Next 100 Years, GPF Chairman George Friedman forecasted that Turkey would become the major power in the Middle East. As Trump draws down on US involvement abroad, Putin gets bogged down in Russia, and Israel is distracted in Gaza, Turkey is spying opportunities. While Turkey's dominance has been on the rise despite its own internal instability, Saudi Arabia on the other side of the region has been giving it a run for its money. In this week's episode of Talking Geopolitics, host Christian Smith is joined by GPF contributor Kamran Bokhari to discuss all this as well as the latest developments out of Israel following Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's public apology to Qatar. Visit www.geopoliticalfutures.com for world-class geopolitical analysis and discussion. There you'll also find George's new series on the 2020s and Its Historic Shift, including his updated forecast for Poland, Turkey and Japan.
Already this month, Russia has violated the airspace of three NATO countries: Estonia, Romania and Poland - twice. What is Russian President Vladimir Putin trying to achieve with these bold moves, and what impact might they have on Ukraine negotiations? GPF Chairman George Friedman joined host Christian Smith to discuss the latest geopolitical developments in the region as well as outline his forecast for Poland's evolution from his 2009 book, The Next 100 Years. Visit www.geopoliticalfutures.com for world-class geopolitical analysis and discussion. There you'll also find George's new series on the 2020s and Its Historic Shift, including his updated forecast for Poland, Turkey and Japan.
GPF contributor Kamran Bokhari recently wrote that massive geopolitical change has come to the Middle East in the form of the attack on Gaza, a weakening of Iran, paralyzing of Hezbollah, the overthrow of the Assad regime in Syria and much more. Considering all these developments and the way in which Israel's actions are driving events in the region, Dr. Bokhari was back on the Club's Podcast+ with host Christian Smith to discuss Israel's wider strategy and what he predicts for the future. Recorded Thursday, September 11, 2025. This clip is part of a full-length episode available to our ClubGPF members. To find out more about ClubGPF, go to www.geopoliticalfutures.com/joinclubgpf.
In what could prove to be a pivotal moment for the Middle East, Israel has bombed Hamas leaders in Qatar. It is the first time Israel has struck in Qatar, a nation that is a close ally with the U.S. In the immediate aftermath, GPF Chairman George Friedman gives his reaction. Why has Benjamin Netanyahu ordered this significant move? What does it say about Israel's wider strategy? And what does it mean for US-Israeli relations, Donald Trump and his Abraham Accords? Visit http://www.geopoliticalfutures.com for world-class geopolitical analysis and discussion.
Over the weekend, the leaders of countries like China, Russia, India and Pakistan arrived in Tianjin, China for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit. Meanwhile, on Tuesday, Chinese President Xi Jinping was joined by Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un for a victory parade celebrating the end of the Second World War in Tiananmen Square. As Xi spoke of nothing less than creating a new global security and economic order, while U.S. President Trump claimed that the trio were conspiring against America, what are the real takeaways from such high-profile events? Shifts away from the U.S. are nothing new, but in this rapidly changing world, could this be different? GPF Chairman George Friedman joined Talking Geopolitics host Christian Smith to discuss it all, as well as how India factors into the equation. Visit http://www.geopoliticalfutures.com for world-class geopolitical analysis and discussion. *Note: In reference to China GDP data mentioned in this episode, China's growth rate is a little below 4% whereas at its highest point it was 15%.
The impending 25 per cent tariffs on India over its purchase of Russian oil appears bold. While the US said its primary motivation was to hit Putin where it hurts, it understandably prompted a strong reaction from the government in New Delhi. So why is the US government willing to target India, what does China have to do with it, and what does it say about Trump's overall strategy? GPF Chairman George Friedman joins Talking Geopolitics host Christian Smith to discuss all this, and whether it will actually work. Visit http://www.geopoliticalfutures.com for world-class geopolitical analysis and discussion.
The United States military has gone through many evolutions, from technological to structural, over the decades. Maintaining dominance in the Atlantic theatre has long remained a top strategic imperative. In a recent live discussion with our ClubGPF members, George Friedman broke down U.S. command of the seas and whether he thinks the fleet will be tested with a major war in the next decade. Visit http://www.geopoliticalfutures.com for world-class geopolitical analysis and discussion.
A long-awaited meeting between Presidents Trump and Putin is slated for this Friday in Alaska. The summit, which comes after three and a half years of war in Ukraine, was announced last Friday after President Trump said that he was going to impose 50 percent tariffs on India. Excitement and trepidation in political circles across the US and Europe is making this feel like a big moment. But is it? Do we actually expect anything to come from this when the two sides appear so far apart? Chairman and Founder of Geopolitical Futures George Friedman joins host Christian Smith to discuss the significance of and potential for the forthcoming meeting. Visit http://www.geopoliticalfutures.com for world-class geopolitical analysis and discussion.
Last week, the U.S. Treasury sanctioned the Venezuelan group the Cartel de los Soles as a terrorist organization. President Trump has long considered the cartels to be terrorists and has made their destruction a key policy of his administration. The cartels export of drugs to the U.S. is having a devastating impact on parts of the country. In our new episode of Talking Geopolitics, join GPF Chairman George Friedman and host Christian Smith as they ask whether the cartels can they really be "destroyed," and why this all has become a geopolitical issue? Visit http://www.geopoliticalfutures.com for world-class geopolitical analysis and discussion.
Before he was elected for his second presidential term, Donald Trump promised to end the Ukraine war in one day. Last week, Trump gave Vladimir Putin a 50-day deadline to come to a peace deal on Ukraine before more sanctions will kick in on Russia and anyone who trades with Russia. In a recent live discussion with our Charter ClubGPF members, GPF Chairman George Friedman broke down what 'winning' actually means in the context of the war, Putin's threat of tactical nuclear weapons, and how Europe is preparing for the worst. Visit http://www.geopoliticalfutures.com for world-class geopolitical analysis and discussion.
For this episode of Talking Geopolitics, we turn our attention to China, where President Xi Jinping has been busy intensifying a crackdown on high-ranking officials. But although China's president may seem like a permanent feature on the global stage, a shaky Chinese economy and circling rivals means that his rule is far from secure. Geopolitical Futures analyst and China expert, Victoria Herczegh, has been writing about this issue for GPF subscribers on our website, and now she joins host Christian Smith to discuss what lies behind Xi's purges, what keeps him up at night, and what might happen when Xi leaves office.
On Saturday US time, 7 B2 Spirit Bombers dropped more than a dozen Bunker Buster Bombs on Iran as part of a coordinated strike on three nuclear sites inside the country. It came just over a week after Israel began its own strikes on Iran, which it said was approaching the point of no return in the development of a nuclear weapon. But it has left the world asking: is this a turning point, the start of a new conflict in the Middle East? Or the end of another one? On the podcast, recorded Sunday, June 22nd, Geopolitical Futures chairman George Friedman joins host Christian Smith to discuss what's behind America's decision to attack, what next for Iran and the region, and whether the US may be dragged into another quagmire in the Middle East. Visit http://www.geopoliticalfutures.com for world-class geopolitical analysis and discussion.
Rivalry and alliances in the Middle East go back centuries and have shaped the geopolitics of this region in a major way. On this clip of a recent ClubGPF Podcast+ episode, GPF contributing analyst Kamran Bokhari joined Christian Smith to examine the complicated relationship between the various factions, mainly Saudi Arabia and Turkey, and how this all fits together to forecast the future of the Middle East region. Visit http://www.geopoliticalfutures.com for world-class geopolitical analysis and discussion.
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Marlo Lemieux
Seems to me that all China has to do to end up on top is wait for the US to continue its drawn out sepuku act...
Henri Chinaski
That was kind of weak, justifying the betrayal of the Kurds by citing instances where others have been involved in equally despicable betrayals. I mean, the Soviet/Nazi Germany non-agression pact, is that really to what you want to compare yourselves to? It is one thing to be a patriot and quite another thing to try to justify anything and everything what one's country does.
rshackleford53
A conversation with George Friedman and Peter Schiff would probably be the equivalent to putting a portable hole into a pocket dimension.
Mariusz Janiszewski
as a polish guy I need to say, from our perspective this sound like portion of propaganda for western media, one of my best friend is from Ukraine, he come to Poland because in one month he was making money for for week of life(east Ukraine). Before Russia attack Ukraine, he had good life, when I show him that podcast he said"i already use to Russian narration, Putin destroyed my county, because him support from ctizens in Russia was low" for me it is just sad, our neighbours suffer trought russian imperalism