• In this episode, we break down the most important geopolitical developments from 9 January 2026—and explain what they signal for regional stability, global power competition, and international law. Today’s 7 stories: Iran: escalating anti-government protests and what this means for regime stability and external pressure. Russia–Ukraine: the “war of endurance” logic—attrition, mobilization capacity, and strategic time horizons. Trump vs. the cartels: the geopolitical implications of talk about striking cartels in Mexico and Colombia—sovereignty, escalation risks, and regional security spillovers. South Korea: the decision to dismantle/reshape an intelligence agency—domestic politics, accountability, and security trade-offs. China–African Union: diplomacy and influence-building—what Beijing wants, what the AU can leverage, and the strategic messaging. India eases restrictions on China: a calibrated shift—economic pragmatism vs. security hedging. Japan: the Defense Minister’s trip to the United States—alliance signaling, deterrence posture, and Indo-Pacific force planning. This is not just a news recap. I connect the dots—why these events matter, how they interact, and what scenarios become more likely over the next weeks. https://www.youtube.com/@geopoliticsro Subscribe to our Youtube channel.

  china, colombia, drug cartels, mexico, Russia, south korea, ukraine, USA