Talking Geopolitics

A non-partisan podcast brought to you by Geopolitical Futures, an online publication founded by internationally recognized geopolitical forecaster George Friedman. Geopolitical Futures tells you what matters in international affairs and what doesn’t. Go to https://geopoliticalfutures.com/podcast for details.

George Friedman on Israel’s Attack on Hamas in Qatar, a US Ally

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.

09-10
33:01

George Friedman Unpacks Xi's Coalition of Anti-Western Powers

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%.

09-04
32:53

George Friedman on Why Trump’s Tariffs on India Are Part of a Wider Geopolitical Game

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.  

08-26
32:08

Will the US Face a Major War in the Next Decade? George Friedman on US Naval Readiness

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.

08-21
07:19

George Friedman on the Real Stakes of the Trump-Putin Alaska Summit

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.

08-11
34:06

Drug Wars: George Friedman on Why the Cartels Are So Hard To Destroy

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.

07-29
01:46

What does a desperate Putin do? George Friedman on Russia, Trump and Peace

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.

07-23
08:39

Are Xi Jinping’s Days Numbered?

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.

07-15
40:33

George Friedman on the Iran Strike: A New War or the End of One?

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.

06-23
37:15

Can Turkey and Saudi Arabia Be Friends? | ClubGPF Preview with Kamran Bokhari

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.

06-06
10:07

Should Europe Fear Russia? George Friedman and Antonia Colibasanu from Romania

The U.S. decision to recuse itself from European security has created something of a crisis on the continent. America wants European countries to pick up their own defense spending and focus on their own region, following Vladimir Putin's 2022 invasion of Ukraine.  So what’s the feeling in Europe about the risks countries there face from Russia? How are they navigating those threats? And do Americans and Europeans see them in the same way? Talking Geopolitics host Christian Smith was joined by Geopolitical Futures Chairman and Founder George Friedman and Antonia Colibasanu, GPF's Senior Analyst from on the ground in Romania to discuss. Visit http://www.geopoliticalfutures.com for world-class geopolitical analysis and discussion.

06-03
48:14

From Turkey to Israel: US Imperatives in the Middle East | ClubGPF Preview with George Friedman and Hilal Khashan

It’s hard to find a region facing as much widespread turmoil as the Middle East, both historically and in the modern world. As Geopolitical Futures’ contributing analyst Hilal Khashan predicts, the Middle East will continue to oscillate between established and rising regional powers, with more turbulent times ahead. Hilal joined George Friedman for our recent ClubGPF live discussion to focus on the Middle East, and to break down the US imperatives in the region, following Donald Trump’s historic visit. To learn more about ClubGPF and join our next session, visit http://ow.ly/qHIP50JUPW2. Visit http://www.geopoliticalfutures.com for world-class geopolitical analysis and discussion.

05-29
08:41

After the Tariffs: What's Next for US-China Security and Economic Relations?

The return of Donald Trump to the White House was always going to mean a new showdown between the world’s two largest economies. But, after spiraling tensions and escalating tariffs, last week the US and China announced that they had agreed to roll back recent measures for an initial 90 days. The agreement, which was hammered out over a weekend in Geneva, has relieved the markets. But the future of the relationship is far from settled – not least because the two sides are attempting to negotiate thorny issues concerning both their security and economic relationships side by side. So what comes next? Host Christian Smith is joined by Geopolitical Futures' director of analysis Allison Fedirka, and China analyst Victoria Herczegh, to find out. Visit http://www.geopoliticalfutures.com for world-class geopolitical analysis and discussion.  

05-23
34:56

George Friedman: What's Next for Russia, Ukraine and Europe?

The US-Ukraine minerals deal is done but a Russia-Ukraine peace deal is seemingly out of reach. Now the US is looking to scale back its involvement in mediating an end to the conflict. So what's next for the war in Ukraine? In this episode, GPF Chairman George Friedman considers how the fighting might end, why Vladimir Putin might be running out of room, and why Eastern Europe is now the pivot point for European defense. Visit http://www.geopoliticalfutures.com for world-class geopolitical analysis and discussion.

05-06
42:33

Neighbors No More? The Shifting Ties of North America

Like much of the world, North American geopolitics looks very different to six months ago. Tariffs, border issues and suggestions of US troops in Mexico are creating concerns to America’s south. On a recent episode of our ClubGPF's Podcast+, GPF director of analysis Allison Fedirka joined host Christian Smith as we continued our series on Trump’s second term in office, looking at the geopolitics of North America. To learn more about ClubGPF, including more free audio and video clips, visit http://ow.ly/qHIP50JUPW2. Visit http://www.geopoliticalfutures.com for world-class geopolitical analysis and discussion.

05-02
06:58

Who's the Next Global Superpower? | ClubGPF Preview with George Friedman

The next great power is in the making. Could the United States make room for the likes of China or even Iran as the next superpower? As GPF Chairman George Friedman explained in our recent ClubGPF live discussion, a great power not only has to have a great military, it also has to have a high level of technology and a strong geopolitical position. To learn more about ClubGPF and join our next session, visit http://ow.ly/qHIP50JUPW2. Visit http://www.geopoliticalfutures.com for world-class geopolitical analysis and discussion.

04-24
10:08

America's Tariffs and Today's Global System | ClubGPF Preview with George Friedman

From the U.S., to Europe, China, the Middle East and Russia, relationships are being restructured due to changing geopolitical forces. As GPF Chairman George Friedman explained in our recent ClubGPF live discussion, we are now entering an age where America is taking on a pivotal role, and where economic warfare is the weapon of choice to maintain power. To learn more about ClubGPF and join our next session, visit http://ow.ly/qHIP50JUPW2.  Visit http://www.geopoliticalfutures.com for world-class geopolitical analysis and discussion.

04-21
06:05

George Friedman on How Geopolitics Drives Trump's Tariffs

It has been a tumultuous couple of weeks since U.S. President Donald Trump announced his sweeping tariffs, pushing the world's two biggest economies, the United States and China, into an ever-escalating trade war. The radical shifts taken by the administration have us at GPF wondering, could this be one of the most consequential months for global economics in the 21st century? And are the tariffs meant to disrupt the global economic system of free trade that's been in place since WWII? In this episode of Talking Geopolitics, Geopolitical Futures Chairman George Friedman joins host Christian Smith to examine just how we got here and to predict how long the tit for tat will continue. Visit http://www.geopoliticalfutures.com for world-class geopolitical analysis and discussion.

04-14
39:29

America in Transition: Trump’s First 50 Days

As we edge over the halfway point of Donald Trump's first 100 days in his second term in office, it's possible we're seeing the start of America’s terminal decline or its regeneration, depending on which side of the line you're on. While the US has been busily announcing the end of the post-World War II global order abroad, at home, the president seems to be even more rapidly trying to upend the status quo. In this episode of Talking Geopolitics, Geopolitical Futures Chairman George Friedman joins host Christian Smith to discuss what to make of Trump’s first 50 days in office in the wider context of American history. Visit http://www.geopoliticalfutures.com for world-class geopolitical analysis and discussion.

03-15
37:56

China's Power Projection: A Message to Donald Trump

As the world watches the Transatlantic Alliance continue to strain, America’s allies to the West are wondering what it all means for them. Analysts Victoria Herczegh and Ronan Wordsworth joined host Christian Smith in our recent Podcast+ episode for ClubGPF members to discuss what Trump's second term means for Australia, AUKUS, and the Indo-Pacific at large. In this clip, the analysts share their thoughts on China's unusual military presence in the Tasman Sea off the coasts of Australia and New Zealand. To learn more about ClubGPF, including more free audio and video clips, visit http://ow.ly/qHIP50JUPW2. Visit http://www.geopoliticalfutures.com for world-class geopolitical analysis and discussion.

03-13
04:13

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07-30 Reply

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...

03-03 Reply

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.

05-18 Reply

rshackleford53

A conversation with George Friedman and Peter Schiff would probably be the equivalent to putting a portable hole into a pocket dimension.

06-13 Reply

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

10-16 Reply

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