GPF contributor Kamran Bokhari recently wrote that massive geopolitical change has come to the Middle East in the form of the attack on Gaza, a weakening of Iran, paralyzing of Hezbollah, the overthrow of the Assad regime in Syria and much more. Considering all these developments and the way in which Israel’s actions are driving events in the region, we’ve brought Dr. Bokhari back to the podcast with host Christian Smith to discuss Israel’s wider strategy and what he predicts for the future.
Russia has been one of the most involved foreign powers in the Middle East over the past 15 years. But with the war in Ukraine, its attention has been turned elsewhere. Meanwhile, many in the West hoped that the massive sanctions placed on Russia following its invasion of Ukraine in 2022 would be enough to force Vladimir Putin to the negotiating table. And as rumors of an impending Russian recession loom, the Kremlin may be starting to feel the pressure.
In simpler times, the decision of the Kurdistan Workers Party to lay down its arms and disband after 40 years of conflict with Turkey would have dominated global headlines. In reality, though, the agreement between the PKK and Ankara became just another development in an already rapidly changing picture for Middle East and global geopolitics. On this episode, GPF contributing analyst Kamran Bokhari joins Christian Smith to understand how this all fits together and what it could mean for Turkey in the more than 30 million Kurds in the Middle East.
Just a few months ago, Canada’s conservative party appeared a dead cert to win the country’s general election. But since the resignation of Justin Trudeau and the souring of relations between the US and its northern neighbor, the polls have quite literally flipped. Meanwhile, tariffs, border issues and suggestions of US troops in Mexico are creating concerns to America’s south. Like much of the world, North American geopolitics looks very different to six months ago. On this episode of the podcast, we continue our series on Trump’s second term in office as we look at the geopolitics of North America with GPF’s director of analysis, Allison Fedirka.
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 join host Christian Smith to discuss what Trump's second term means for Australia, AUKUS, and the Indo-Pacific at large.
What does Donald Trump’s return to the White House mean for America’s relationship with the world’s most populous country? GPF contributor Kamran Bokhari joins host Christian Smith to map the trajectory of U.S.-India relations since Trump's first term in office, and to discuss the major forces at play going forward.
Relations with China will undoubtedly be an integral part of Donald Trump’s second-term policy agenda. Analyst Victoria Herczegh joins host Christian Smith to discuss what China is doing to prepare for Trump 2.0, what the Chinese economy might look like over the coming years, and how this will affect the US and the rest of the world.
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 and analyst Victoria Herczegh join host Christian Smith to discuss the current state and potential future of the Polish nation.
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 joins host Christian Smith to discuss what’s next for Iran, its proxies, and the Middle East at large.
The European far right has had one of their best electoral years since the Second World War. In elections in the EU, Austria, Germany, France and beyond, far or hard right parties have all done exceedingly well. What is behind the rise in popularity, and what could it mean for European geopolitics? GPF Senior Analyst Antonia Colibasanu and Analyst Ronan Wordsworth join host Christian Smith to understand the moment and plot what comes next.
Long seen as deep within Russia’s orbit, the five republics of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan are now firmly part of Eurasia’s shifting geopolitics. Analysts Ridvan Bari Urcosta and Ekaterina Zolotova join host Christian Smith to discuss how Central Asia has changed over the past few years, what the future may hold, and why the present could be a major turning point for the region.
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 joins host Christian Smith to discuss the conflict at the border, how realistic a full-scale war might be, and what a Trump presidency could mean for the region.
