Geopolitical Futures

“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.

“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.

Further withdrawal? The Trump administration has reportedly quietly signaled to European allies that it plans to reduce U.S. forces in Bulgaria, Hungary and Slovakia starting next month, following a...

Progress. U.S. President Donald Trump agreed to reduce U.S. tariffs on Chinese imports during a meeting in South Korea with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Trump said he would lower...

Downsizing. The U.S. plans to withdraw 800 soldiers stationed in Romania, according to Romanian officials, as part of a broader restructuring of its forces in Europe. U.S. officials reportedly...

Roadblocks in Gaza. Countries that were expected to contribute to an international stabilization force for Gaza are increasingly hesitant to participate due to Hamas’ continued armament, the Israel Hayom...