HomeFrom the Desk of George Friedman

From the Desk of George Friedman

A Visit to Dubai

George Friedman - April 1, 2022

On the last day of our trip to Dubai, my wife and I are struggling to understand the precise meaning of “one day.” In order to be allowed to return to the United States, we must be tested for COVID-19 within one day of departure. We leave at 3 a.m. on Thursday. Does one day […]

The Emerging Order

George Friedman - March 29, 2022

I am writing this from Dubai, on a trip I will describe on my return to the United States. A summit was held in...

How the Ukrainian Battlefield Redefines the World

George Friedman - March 22, 2022

The war in Ukraine is a humanitarian tragedy to be sure, but that’s not why it has commanded the world’s attention. After all, there...

Will Russia Return to Its Old Strategy?

George Friedman - March 18, 2022

After Russia invaded Ukraine, I explained why I didn’t think it would and laid out my reasoning in a subsequent column. I have been...

Learning Lessons From the War in Ukraine

George Friedman - March 15, 2022

After a war, all parties turn to “lessons learned,” a phrase that has become commonplace. A war is, in a hideous way, a learning...

The Tank and I

George Friedman - March 11, 2022

In 1972, I was wandering aimlessly around a U.S. Army facility in Pennsylvania called Fort Indiantown Gap. Eventually, I passed two M-60 armored fighting...

Evaluating Russia’s Performance in Ukraine

George Friedman - March 8, 2022

The Russian invasion of Ukraine had two goals. The first was to take control of Ukraine, intending to complete the task begun in Belarus...

How the Ukraine War Might Shift the Global System

George Friedman - March 4, 2022

War is agony for everyone involved. Wars are bloody affairs that have consequences not just for the soldiers who fight them but also for...

My Mistake on Ukraine

George Friedman - February 25, 2022

Since the beginning of the Russian armored buildup, and even after the entry into Donbas, I argued that the Russians would not invade Ukraine...

The Fog of War and the Grammar of War

George Friedman - February 24, 2022

The fog of war is an ancient concept, worn but true. Advancing on what he thinks is an enemy position, sitting in an armored...

Europe and the Ukraine Crisis

George Friedman - February 22, 2022

Last week, the European Union’s highest court ruled that Brussels can withhold funding from member states that violate the rule of law, slapping down...