Talking Geopolitics

What led to the midterm election disaster for Trump and the Republicans? On this episode of Talking Geopolitics , GPF Chairman George Friedman joins host Christian Smith to discuss the economic toll of the Iran War, the backlash against AI and tech influence, and other emerging policy splits leading to right-wing division and defeat. Also: The outlook for 2028 and where we are in "the Storm". Epis...

How will this week's major elections move the needle in global geopolitics? On this episode of Talking Geopolitics , GPF Chairman George Friedman joins host Christian Smith to break down the impact of elections in Israel, Serbia, and Brazil; explore how systemic geopolitical shifts reshape internal politics; and evaluate the momentum building toward peace in Ukraine. Episode recorded on October 28...

Is the US-Ukraine relationship at a breaking point, or is this just the next page in Trump's negotiation playbook? On this episode of Talking Geopolitics , GPF Chairman George Friedman joins host Christian Smith to discuss the recent developments in US-Ukraine diplomacy and Trump's economic-first strategy, the unlikelihood of a military victory after five years of stalemate, and the rhetoric versu...

Are we living through an unprecedented collapse of the global order, or is this just another turbulent chapter in the geopolitical cycle? On this episode of Talking Geopolitics, GPF Chairman George Friedman joins host Christian Smith to answer subscriber questions on the state of the world. Topics include the future of the Middle East and US strategy, the value of "ineffective" diplomatic maneuver...

Is Eastern Europe finally free from the crushing dominance of foreign powers? In this recent ClubGPF Live Discussion, GPF analyst Ridvan Bari Urcosta joins GPF Chairman George Friedman to discuss the diminished power of Russia, the obsolescence of Cold War geopolitical frameworks, and what this shift means for Poland and the rest of Eastern Europe. This ClubGPF Live Discussion was recorded on Sept...

On this episode of Talking Geopolitics, GPF Chairman George Friedman joins host Christian Smith to discuss the unfolding security incident at RAF Fairford, the fallout from the US-China summit and Xi's letter to Trump, and the overblown risks of AI in geopolitics and related technology. Information on the RAF base plot is changing rapidly. Episode recorded on September 28, 2026. Subscribe to our f...

It's a high-stakes week for global geopolitics and diplomacy. On this episode of Talking Geopolitics, GPF Chairman George Friedman joins host Christian Smith for a broad discussion on the real-world impact of fiery UN debates, the future of European security and Russian provocation, and how global trade hangs in the balance ahead of the US-China summit in Washington. Also: Iran War impacts and fla...

Eighty years after World War II, the far right is rising again in Europe. Is their recent success a sign of a geopolitical shift? On this episode of Talking Geopolitics, GPF Chairman George Friedman joins host Christian Smith to discuss the AfD's regional victory in Germany, how fading historical guilt and tensions over cultural identity serve as unifying populist forces, and how similar movements...

It's been an interesting few days for US-Russia relations. On this episode of Talking Geopolitics , GPF Chairman George Friedman joins host Christian Smith to discuss the CIA Director's trip to Moscow, the drone plot in Germany, and reports of Russia's help in an Iranian advanced weapons program. What does a threat assessment of Russia reveal about these tactical and diplomatic shifts? What are th...

What does the transformation of the PLA mean for China's global position and strategy? On this episode of Talking Geopolitics , GPF Chairman George Friedman and GPF analyst and China expert Victoria Herczegh join host Christian Smith to discuss how Xi Jinping's supreme desire for loyalty impacts the PLA's effectiveness, the operational risks of rapid technological modernization without critical ev...

Is last week's signing of a landmark mutual defense agreement between Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan a further signal of global geopolitical realignment? On this special extended episode of Talking Geopolitics , GPF Chairman George Friedman and Middle East expert and GPF contributor Kamran Bokhari join host Christian Smith for a deep dive into the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement and how it shift...

Is modern technology leading us toward a new geopolitical weapon? In this recent ClubGPF Live Discussion, Retired USCG Rear Admiral Doug Fears joins GPF Chairman George Friedman to discuss the evolution of information warfare, how state actors can exacerbate social fractures using AI, and why cyberspace as a whole must evolve or become a threat to national security. This ClubGPF Live Discussion wa...

Will Iran's long-game strategy and the United States' limited military options lead to capitulation or the crumbling of Trump's presidency? On this episode of Talking Geopolitics , GPF Chairman George Friedman joins host Christian Smith to discuss the historical scope of the Iran conflict and its "existential" threat, the limits of US force amid mounting political pressure at home, and Iran's nego...

What does Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent visit to Australia, New Zealand, and Indonesia mean for India, China, and the rest of the Indo-Pacific? On this episode of Talking Geopolitics , GPF Chairman George Friedman joins host Christian Smith to discuss how Modi's tour signals a strategic pivot for India, how geography and common security interests can be leveraged to buffer China, and what...

This week's NATO summit in Turkey left big questions about the war in Iran and America's role in European defense. On this episode of Talking Geopolitics, GPF Chairman George Friedman joins host Christian Smith to discuss the US-Iran ceasefire breakdown, NATO and the European collective defense dilemma, and Turkey's geopolitical rise and impact on the shifting realities in the region. Episode reco...

Will a Russian energy crisis finally lead to a negotiated settlement, or are we headed towards nuclear war? On this episode of Talking Geopolitics , GPF Chairman George Friedman joins host Christian Smith to discuss Ukrainian target shifts toward energy infrastructure and their impact on Russia's already fragile economy, the impending political crisis inside the Kremlin, and the viability of Russi...

Is the US-Iran agreement a real move toward peace or just a fragile memorandum? On this episode of Talking Geopolitics , GPF Chairman George Friedman joins host Christian Smith to discuss the "deal" and pause in hostilities, the shifting regional dynamics and military forces at play, and how each nation's internal political pressures could lead us straight back to war. Also: the advantage of defen...

The US is divided at home and gridlocked abroad. Is the chaos a sign of decline or just the normal process of American progress? On this episode of Talking Geopolitics , GPF Chairman George Friedman joins host Christian Smith to discuss how underestimating the US led to D-Day, the myth of American decline, and how historical cycles can predict the process of US reinvention. Also: foreign policy sh...

Does Trump's tirade to Netanyahu signal the fracture of the historic alliance between the United States and Israel? On this episode of Talking Geopolitics , GPF Chairman George Friedman joins host Christian Smith to discuss the evolution of US-Israeli relations, their diverging interests in the Middle East, and how Israel's strategic burden spells trouble for regional accommodation. Also: Netanyah...

History echoes as the US increases pressure on Cuba once again. On this episode of Talking Geopolitics , GPF Chairman George Friedman joins host Christian Smith to discuss Cuba's unique place in American geopolitics, the cause and potential outcome of the current crisis, and how Cuba fits into the US's new Western Hemisphere strategy. Also: Cuban parallels to other island nations. Learn more about...

Is global power built on tanks and treaties, or trade and technology? Introducing your view of the global economy through the lens of geopolitics, GeoEconomic Lens. In this exclusive clip from ClubGPF's Podcast+, Senior Analyst and Chief GeoEconomist Antonia Colibasanu joins host Christian Smith for a primer on geoeconomics and the new offering, the vulnerabilities of global economic interdependen...

With the US, Russia, China, and Europe all at strategic crossroads, the new global geopolitical order is starting to show itself. On this episode of Talking Geopolitics, GPF Chairman George Friedman joins host Christian Smith to discuss Russia's internal crises and strategic pivot, the upcoming summit and future of US-China rapprochement, and how Europe is critical not only to Russia's future but...

Is Putin looking to Trump for a lifeline? How does last week's phone call between the leaders actually signal Russian weakness? On this episode of Talking Geopolitics, GPF Chairman George Friedman joins host Christian Smith to discuss the geopolitical implications of the meeting, Russia's economic deterioration and internal instability, and what a post-Putin Russia might look like. Also: US troop...

What does the multi-billion-dollar warship deal between Japan and Australia say about the new geopolitical order forming in the Pacific? On this episode of Talking Geopolitics , GPF Chairman George Friedman joins host Christian Smith to discuss the landmark defense cooperation, its impact on regional power dynamics, and how it may alter the posture of major players like China and the US. Also disc...

A ceasefire is in place, but negotiations are once again breaking down over the conflict in Iran. Are we any closer to a long-term solution? On this episode of Talking Geopolitics, GPF Chairman George Friedman joins host Christian Smith to discuss the stalled negotiations, the impacts of the US blockade on Iranian ports, and why this new strategy could be more about China than Iran for Donald Trum...