Tim Marshall

Tim Marshall is a journalist and author. He was the longstanding foreign affairs editor and then diplomatic editor for Sky News, during which time he reported from thirty countries and covered the events of twelve wars. He has reported from Europe, the United States, (covering three US Presidential Elections), and Asia, as well as from the field in Bosnia, Croatia and Serbia during the Balkan wars of the 1990s. He also reported from the front line during the invasion of Afghanistan and spent time in Iraq, reporting on the country's transition to democracy. Tim is the author of Prisoners of Geography and the Power of Geography. He writes Geographical's monthly geopolitical column.


Soldiers of the Yemeni army move into position in the city of Taiz, as part of an operation to confront Houthi militia fighters. Yemen, September 27, 2021

Tim Marshall on how Yemen’s ancient religious divisions fuel a modern war

Oct 27, 2026
Religion, geography and regional rivalries have shaped the Houthis’ rise. Understanding that combination helps explain why a struggle for power in Yemen has consequences far beyond its borders
World map

Why country names matter, from Türkiye to Sri Lanka

Oct 6, 2026
Shakespeare may have thought names changed little, but for nations, they can embody history, identity, sovereignty – and sometimes a considerable amount of politics
Havana feels the heat

Havana feels the heat

Jun 26, 2026
Cuba's leaders may fear American power, but blackouts, shortages and economic collapse pose a more immediate threat
Crops

Tim Marshall on why blocking the Strait of Hormuz makes food more expensive

Jun 10, 2026
When the Strait of Hormuz is disrupted, the shock travels from Gulf shipping lanes to European farms – and then to supermarket shelves
AI Concept

The geography of AI

Apr 30, 2026
The dream of a free and placeless digital world is over. Artificial intelligence is rooted in territory, resources and national power
USA and Cuba flags

The right man in Havana

Mar 9, 2026
If Havana wobbles, Washington will move fast to protect trade – and its strategic background, argues Tim Marshall
Protest outside Iranian embassy in London

Tim Marshall on the Iranian crisis

Jan 14, 2026
As Iran’s supreme leader nears the end of his rule, the real battle for power begins – not between reformists and clerics, but between the mosques and the military
Trump

How Trump is moving us into a new era

Jan 13, 2026
Tim Marshall on how Trump's renewed presidency accelerates the shift away from liberal internationalism
US and Venezuela

Tim Marshall on the America’s power play in the Caribbean

Nov 19, 2025
Tim Marshall on the US operations in Venezuela amid the ongoing war on drugs and its historical context.
Drone in warfare

Tim Marshall on how geography still matters in modern wars

Oct 27, 2025

Drones may rewrite battle plans, but rivers, deserts and choke points still get a vote on who wins and who…

Baky skyline view from Baku boulevard (the Caspian Sea embankment). Baku is the capital and largest city of Azerbaijan and of the Caucasus region.

Peace, pipelines and power plays in the Caucasus

Oct 1, 2025
New corridor linking Azerbaijan to its exclave is being hailed as a win for peace – but it could just as easily ignite geopolitical tensions
Cambodia Thailand flag

How a disputed map fuels longstanding feud between Cambodia & Thailand

Aug 29, 2025
A centuries- old temple, a disputed map and a border still bristling with tension...
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