Talking Geopolitics

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 o...

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 poi...

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 o...

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 sess...

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 nex...

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...

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 s...

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...

After Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy's Oval Office bust up, you might think the war in Ukraine is going rather well for Vladimir Putin. But, according to Geopolitical Futures Chairman George Friedman, the Russian president has already lost the war. Tune in to this new podcast from Geopolitical Futures as Friedman explains Russia's failure, why he thinks Trump is buttering up Putin, and what...

One month into Donald Trump's second term, even those who closely followed his first time in office have struggled to keep up. Foreign policy shifts alone include tariffs, attacks on allies, and a proposed takeover in Gaza. Now, an apparent rapprochement with Russia has the potential to revolutionize US strategy. What is the US trying to achieve in its negotiations with Russia? And is this all jus...

Historically, nations did not conduct themselves without aligning with or getting their bearings in relation to a power system that drove the world; an anchor. This was the case, for example, in the world wars of the last century, and the Cold War. But as Chairman George Friedman explained in our recent ClubGPF live discussion, things have changed, and various nations are testing each other. To le...

Over the past few decades, Poland has seen its economy grow and its military expand. With Donald Trump returning to the White House next month and the former president having made his feelings about European security contributions clear, the Eastern European nation is set to become one of the most important players in Europe. Senior Analyst Antonia Colibasanu joined host Christian Smith in our rec...

Israel's decimation of Hezbollah's leadership and war-making capabilities has paved the way for a massive altering of the geopolitical landscape in the Middle East. After decades on the offensive, Iran has suffered a major setback in its strategy for the region. GPF contributor Kamran Bokhari joined host Christian Smith on our recent Podcast+ episode for ClubGPF members to discuss what's next for...

From London to Warsaw, Paris to Kyiv, last week's election of Donald Trump for a second time in the U.S. has sent European leaders scrambling. With the expectation that Trump will reduce defense support for Ukraine and Europe more generally, tune in to this special podcast from Geopolitical Futures as Chairman and Founder George Friedman explains what Trump means for Europe and the post-war order....

At GPF we have a distinct method for looking at the world, and every day we see this model play out in real time, like in the current conflicts in the Middle East. In this ClubGPF live discussion, Chairman George Friedman discusses the relationship between current conflicts and the dangers of non-state actors like Hezbollah and Hamas. To learn more about ClubGPF, including more free audio and vide...

The European far right has had one of their best electoral years since the Second World War. What could it mean for European geopolitics, and how does migration play a part? GPF Analyst Ronan Wordsworth joined host Christian Smith from Prague on our recent Podcast+ episode for ClubGPF members to understand the moment and plot what comes next. To learn more about ClubGPF, including more free audio...

In order to survive generation after generation, the nation of Hungary has had to maintain a unique balancing act within Central Europe. In our recent ClubGPF live discussion, Chairman George Friedman discussed American and Hungarian world views and the strategic, geopolitical perspective of Hungary and its relation to the US and Central Europe through decades of European conflict.  To learn more...

Will the Israel-Hamas War spread across the region? After months of Hezbollah and the IDF exchanging fire, attacks have escalated in recent weeks. Middle East Analyst Hilal Khashan joined host Christian Smith on our recent Podcast+ episode for ClubGPF members to discuss the conflict at the border, and how realistic a full-scale war might be. To learn more about ClubGPF, including more free audio a...

With a unique position both geographically and economically in Europe, France remains an important player on the world stage. Although it has key roles in the EU, NATO, and the UN, France still struggles to find its global identity. Senior Geopolitical Analyst Antonia Colibasanu joined host Christian Smith on our recent Podcast+ episode for ClubGPF members to discuss the current state of play and...

From the war in Ukraine, instability in the Middle East, and the potential for conflict in the Pacific, the U.S. military is involved to a certain degree in a variety of operations. In this ClubGPF live discussion, Colonel Scott Leonard, Chief of Staff to the Commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps (ret) joined GPF Chairman George Friedman to discuss global security challenges from a U.S. military per...

What are the geopolitical implications of the AUKUS partnership between Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States? In our most recent Podcast+ episode for ClubGPF members, analyst Ronan Wordsworth joined host Christian Smith for a discussion on the future of AUKUS and what the potential addition of Japan and New Zealand to the alliance could mean for China and the Indo-Pacific. To learn...

Geopolitical and national security threats are constantly changing and evolving, sometimes it's hard to keep up. In this ClubGPF live discussion, Rear Admiral (ret) Douglas Fears, Former U.S. Homeland Security and Counterterrorism Advisor to the President joined GPF Chairman George Friedman to discuss a wide range of threats from cyber to denial of service, malign influences in social media and ba...

What's on the horizon for the world's largest democracy? In our most recent Podcast+ episode for ClubGPF members, GPF contributor Kamran Bokhari joined host Christian Smith for a discussion on the geopolitical implications of India's upcoming election, how it can continue its balancing act between the US, China and the rest of the world, and why it has cause for concern over the recent ISIS attack...

Middle East expert Hilal Khashan wrote in his January 23rd piece titled 'The Middle East as a Powder Keg' that resolving the region's issues will be on hold pending resolution of the conflict in Gaza. In a recent ClubGPF live discussion, Dr. Khashan was joined by GPF Chairman George Friedman to discuss current conditions, why Israel is reluctant to make any kind of deal, and what a Palestinian sta...

How do intelligence failures happen? What are the ramifications for such failures? In our recent ClubGPF discussion, GPF Chairman George Friedman examined the different types of intelligence and why they're important, applying the various intelligence strategies to the current geopolitical struggles in the world, including the Israel-Gaza conflict and Russia's invasion of Ukraine.   To learn more...