geopolitical

British  

/ ˌdʒiːəʊpəˈlɪtɪkəl /

adjective

1. of or relating to geopolitics; involving geographical and political elements

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Explanation

Anything geopolitical has to do with the way a country's land and resources affect its government, trade, and relationships with other countries. A current geopolitical issue for all countries is climate change. The warming climate is a geopolitical threat because it affects the way various governments spend money, regulate industries, and interact with other countries' governments. If geopolitical sounds complicated or confusing, just think of it as geography combined with political. The way physical borders, weather, and bodies of water affect a country's political decisions is, in fact, geopolitical.

Example Sentences

The arduous, outdoor pilgrimage will be held against the backdrop of geopolitical tensions but also under punishing heat, with temperatures forecast to top 40C for much of the week.

From Barron's • May 25, 2026

Cuba’s Fidel Castro and his brother Raúl developed an outsize military that projected unprecedented geopolitical power by a Third World country at the height of the Cold War.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 25, 2026

Whether India surpasses last year's $18bn figure remains uncertain because of the current "geopolitical air pocket", says Abrol of Grant Thornton.

From BBC • May 24, 2026

Speaking in New London, Connecticut, he described the graduating class as part of what he called a broader national “resurgence,” tying their service to border security and ongoing geopolitical tensions.

From Salon • May 24, 2026

Time magazine was just one of many media outlets beating the geopolitical drum.

From "Endgame" by Frank Brady