Podcast

As the world reels from the shocking violence in Israel and Palestine, Geopolitical Futures brings you a special edition of Talking Geopolitics. GPF Chairman George Friedman joins Christian Smith to discuss why the attacks took place, why Israel’s intelligence failed, and how the conflict will put pressure on Arab nations - and not in the way you may think.

On this episode of Talking Geopolitics, we continue our subscriber-only limited series Geopolitics in the 21st Century. After the pandemic and war in Ukraine accelerated changes in the world economy and encouraged the weaponization of economics, Senior Analyst Antonia Colibășanu joins host Christian Smith for a discussion on why geoeconomics is set to dominate the 21st century.

Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu announced the country intends to expand critical grain shipments from Ukraine as Russia's war on Ukraine continues to disrupt trade in the Black Sea Basin. Antonia Colibasanu joined John Batchelor to discuss Romania's role in not only Black Sea trade but also its importance in keeping Ukraine's economy afloat, which is not without risk.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has announced he intends to revive the Black Sea Grain Deal, an initiative crucial to Ukraine as one of the world's largest grain exporters. GPF Chairman George Friedman joined John Batchelor on the day of this announcement to discuss the latest on the deal, and not only the war on the frontlines in Ukraine, but the economic war Russia continues to wage.

On this episode of Talking Geopolitics we begin a subscriber-only limited series on some of the key issues in geopolitics today. Chairman George Friedman joins host Christian Smith for a deeper look at the current movements, motives and potential outcomes of the Russo-Ukrainian War and the ongoing friction between the US and China.

US government agencies are working hard to choke off illicit flows of fentanyl, with precursor materials originating mainly from thousands of Chinese companies. GPF's Allison Fedirka joined John Batchelor to discuss the US' anti-China stance and its hope for Latin America, who is heavily involved in the drug trade.

What imperatives do both India and France have in the Indian Ocean, and how can they work together to achieve their goals? Antonia Colibasanu joined John Batchelor to discuss the importance of Exclusive Economic Zones and why France is a natural strategic ally to India. In the second segment, updates from Ukraine and the Black Sea Grain Deal.

Germany, Europe’s second largest economy, has entered a recession. What are the long- and short- term ramifications within Germany and throughout European and global economies? Ekaterina Zolotova joins John Batchelor to discuss the challenges ahead, including impacts in the Russian auto market.

The idea that the war in Ukraine can be wrapped up quickly is a bygone notion. Following the recent collapse of the Kakhovka dam in Ukraine, GPF Chairman George Friedman joins John Batchelor to discuss the ways in which the war has escalated, and where it may go from here. And in the second segment, what happened when the heads of intelligence of two dozen countries held a meeting in Singapore?

At this year's G-7 Summit in Hiroshima, Japan, the advanced economies delivered their most detailed articulation yet of a shared position on Beijing. Antonia Colibasanu joined John Batchelor to discuss the event and its implications for addressing China's aggression, and ways to reduce overreliance on China for production of goods all while navigating a global economic war.

Is Russia really in control in the Ukraine war? What is the reality on the ground? Following the recent Moscow drone attack, GPF Chairman George Friedman joins John Batchelor to discuss the Russian principal of maskirovka, or the use of various deceptions and denials to mask their true intentions.

How did Russia prepare for round after round of sanctions from the West, and to a certain extent evade their impacts, following its invasion of Ukraine over one year ago? Antonia Colibasanu joins John Batchelor to discuss the history of Russian sanctions going back to its annexation of Crimea in 2014, and what the future holds for the Russian economy.