Why US-China Relations Will Define the Next Generation (2026 Forecast Preview)

Why US-China Relations Will Define the Next Generation (2026 Forecast Preview)

Author: Geopolitical Futures - Geopolitics from George Friedman and his team at GPF January 22, 2026 Duration: 35:49

Earlier this month, Geopolitical Futures released its annual Forecast, which focuses on the most critical changes to the international order in the year to come. One of the featured predictions in this year's Forecast was on the shifting relationship between the United States and China. It is a relationship that GPF Chairman George Friedman believes will define the next generation of international relations.

This week on Talking Geopolitics, George joined host Christian Smith to give a preview of this forecast, and we'll even dive into the perplexing logic of Donald Trump's will-he, won't-he attempt to take ownership of Greenland from Denmark, a NATO ally. Visit http://www.geopoliticalfutures.com for world-class geopolitical analysis and discussion.


Talking Geopolitics offers a clear-eyed, non-partisan look at the forces shaping our world, moving beyond the daily headlines to examine the deeper historical and strategic currents. This podcast comes from the team at Geopolitical Futures, the publication founded by George Friedman, whose analysis is grounded in decades of experience. You'll hear discussions that distinguish between fleeting noise and the underlying realities that truly matter in international affairs. The conversations focus on understanding national imperatives, regional tensions, and long-term trends, all framed within a historical context. It’s for anyone who feels overwhelmed by fragmented news cycles and seeks a more structured, insightful perspective on global power dynamics. By tuning into this podcast, you gain access to a disciplined method of thinking about geopolitics, one that prioritizes enduring geographic, economic, and political constraints over partisan narratives. Each episode aims to provide listeners with a coherent framework, making sense of complex events from Eastern Europe to the South China Sea. The analysis presented here is designed to be practical and forward-looking, exploring not just what happened, but the likely consequences and strategic options available to key nations. Engaging with this content regularly helps build a more nuanced understanding of why states behave as they do, offering a valuable resource for navigating an interconnected world. The tone is conversational yet precise, reflecting the serious work done by Friedman and his analytical team at GPF.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Talking Geopolitics
Podcast Episodes
The Geopolitics of Natural Disasters [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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What are the geopolitical impacts of natural disasters? On this free preview of our ClubGPF podcast+, Dir. of Analysis Allison Fedirka and COO Antonia Colibasanu join host Christian Smith to discuss the recent earthquake…
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Duration: 34:35
This week we are revisiting one of our most popular episodes to date. Chairman George Friedman explores China's relationship with both the United States and Russia, as well as its tendency towards isolation. East Asia Ex…
Lebanon's Bleak Future; Midterm Forecast Report Card [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:07
A year removed from a massive explosion in Beirut, Middle East expert Hilal Khashan discusses the dire situation in Lebanon and its larger impact on the region's geopolitics. Analysts Allison Fedirka and Phillip Orchard…
The Importance of Cuba; A Central Asian Shuffle [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:12
Chairman George Friedman discusses the recent protests in Cuba and dives into the past, present, and future of its geopolitical importance. Analyst Ekaterina Zolotova takes us on a tour of Central Asia and explores its p…
Curiosity in the Middle East; Africa's Shifting Geopolitics [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:33
How secure is the new Middle East power balance ushered in by the Abraham Accords? How much does the U.S. care? Chairman George Friedman explains how two recent events can help us find answers. Head of Analysis Allison F…
Germany Then and Now; Nuclear Deals and Iran's Proxies [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:24
To mark the anniversary of VE Day, Chairman George Friedman discusses his recent article on Germany and explains why the nation's desire to fly under the radar cannot last forever. Senior Analyst Hilal Khashan tells us w…