CIA in Moscow, Hybrid Threats, and the Limits of Russian Escalation

It's been an interesting few days for US-Russia relations. On this episode of Talking Geopolitics, GPF Chairman George Friedman joins host Christian Smith to discuss the CIA Director's trip to Moscow, the drone plot in Germany, and reports of Russia's help in an Iranian advanced weapons program. What does a threat assessment of Russia reveal about these tactical and diplomatic shifts? What are the impacts on European security, US-Russia relations, and future peace in Ukraine? Also: Nuclear deterrence and Cold War lessons. Episode recorded on September 2, 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 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. 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.

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.

This week's NATO summit in Turkey left big questions about the war in Iran and America's role in European defense. On this episode of Talking Geopolitics, GPF Chairman George Friedman joins host Christian Smith to discuss the US-Iran ceasefire breakdown, NATO and the European collective defense dilemma, and Turkey's geopolitical rise and impact on the shifting realities in the region. Episode recorded on July 9, 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.

Will a Russian energy crisis finally lead to a negotiated settlement, or are we headed towards nuclear war? On this episode of Talking Geopolitics, GPF Chairman George Friedman joins host Christian Smith to discuss Ukrainian target shifts toward energy infrastructure and their impact on Russia's already fragile economy, the impending political crisis inside the Kremlin, and the viability of Russia's potential next steps, including "tactical" nukes, Belarusian involvement, and fully mobilizing reserve forces. Episode recorded on June 29, 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.

Is the US-Iran agreement a real move toward peace or just a fragile memorandum? On this episode of Talking Geopolitics, GPF Chairman George Friedman joins host Christian Smith to discuss the "deal" and pause in hostilities, the shifting regional dynamics and military forces at play, and how each nation's internal political pressures could lead us straight back to war. Also: the advantage of defense; the US-Israel divide. Episode recorded on June 17, 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.

The US is divided at home and gridlocked abroad. Is the chaos a sign of decline or just the normal process of American progress? On this episode of Talking Geopolitics, GPF Chairman George Friedman joins host Christian Smith to discuss how underestimating the US led to D-Day, the myth of American decline, and how historical cycles can predict the process of US reinvention. Also: foreign policy shifts and competition with China. 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.