Talking Geopolitics

What does the transformation of the PLA mean for China's global position and strategy?

On this episode of Talking Geopolitics, GPF Chairman George Friedman and GPF analyst and China expert Victoria Herczegh join host Christian Smith to discuss how Xi Jinping's supreme desire for loyalty impacts the PLA's effectiveness, the operational risks of rapid technological modernization without critical evaluation, and what's next for US-China relations as signals of de-escalation appear ahead of next month's summit. Also: Taiwan's symbolic role.

Episode recorded on August 18, 2026.

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Is last week's signing of a landmark mutual defense agreement between Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan a further signal of global geopolitical realignment?

On this special extended episode of Talking Geopolitics, GPF Chairman George Friedman and Middle East expert and GPF contributor Kamran Bokhari join host Christian Smith for a deep dive into the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement and how it shifts the balance of power across the Middle East and beyond.

Also: GPF Chief Geoeconomist Antonia Colibasanu discusses this month's Geoeconomic Lens, and the future of sanctions and the war in Ukraine.

Dr. Bokhari is a Senior Resident Fellow with the Middle East Policy Council and a Senior Director at the New Lines Institute for Strategy & Policy in Washington, DC.

Episode recorded on August 11, 2026.

Learn more about GeoEconomic Lens and access the first issue for free at https://geopoliticalfutures.com/lens/introducing-lens/.

Is modern technology leading us toward a new geopolitical weapon?

In this recent ClubGPF Live Discussion, Retired USCG Rear Admiral Doug Fears joins GPF Chairman George Friedman to discuss the evolution of information warfare, how state actors can exacerbate social fractures using AI, and why cyberspace as a whole must evolve or become a threat to national security.

This ClubGPF Live Discussion was recorded on July 16, 2026. To learn more about ClubGPF video discussions and to save your seat for our next session, go to https://geopoliticalfutures.com/clubgpf/video-discussions/.

Will Iran's long-game strategy and the United States' limited military options lead to capitulation or the crumbling of Trump's presidency?

On this episode of Talking Geopolitics, GPF Chairman George Friedman joins host Christian Smith to discuss the historical scope of the Iran conflict and its "existential" threat, the limits of US force amid mounting political pressure at home, and Iran's negotiation strategy and leverage in the nuclear stalemate.

Episode recorded on July 28, 2026.

Learn more about GeoEconomic Lens and access the first issue for free at https://geopoliticalfutures.com/lens/introducing-lens/.

Learn more about GPF and subscribe to our free newsletter at http://www.geopoliticalfutures.com/gpf-newsletter.

What does Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent visit to Australia, New Zealand, and Indonesia mean for India, China, and the rest of the Indo-Pacific?

On this episode of Talking Geopolitics, GPF Chairman George Friedman joins host Christian Smith to discuss how Modi's tour signals a strategic pivot for India, how geography and common security interests can be leveraged to buffer China, and what this loose anti-China framework means for the broader geopolitical system. Also: Chinese countermoves. Pakistan looks west.

Episode recorded on July 14, 2026.

Learn more about GeoEconomic Lens and access the first issue for free at https://geopoliticalfutures.com/lens/introducing-lens/.

Learn more about GPF and subscribe to our free newsletter at http://www.geopoliticalfutures.com/gpf-newsletter.