Talking Geopolitics

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%.

George Friedman, Chairman and founder of Geopolitical Futures, is an internationally recognized geopolitical forecaster. In this discussion, he analyzes Trump's bold decision to impose tariffs on India, exploring its implications for U.S.-India relations and the strategic maneuvering against China. Friedman delves into the hypocrisy of U.S. foreign policy and the broader geopolitical game at play, linking tariffs to shifting alliances and military investments. He unpacks the unpredictability of U.S. strategies and their profound impact on global dynamics.

George Friedman, an internationally recognized geopolitical forecaster and founder of Geopolitical Futures, delves into U.S. naval readiness and its implications for future conflicts. He discusses the evolution of U.S. military strategy from land-based engagements to potential naval confrontations. Friedman emphasizes the importance of maintaining dominance in the Atlantic theatre, as rising tensions in the Eastern Hemisphere may challenge that supremacy. Will the fleet face a major war in the next decade? His insights provide a thought-provoking analysis.

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.

George Friedman, chairman and founder of Geopolitical Futures, shares his insights on the recent U.S. strikes against Iran's nuclear sites. He discusses the motivations behind America’s military actions and the implications for regional stability. The conversation dives into shifting alliances among the U.S., Iran, and Israel, and considers the potential impact on Iranian internal politics. Additionally, Friedman highlights emerging anti-war sentiments in U.S. politics, revealing unexpected coalitions and questions around the future of U.S. involvement in the Middle East.

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.

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.