Eurasia’s Ian Bremmer picks 2019’s biggest risks – for investors and citizens

LONDON — Eurasia Group's founder and chief executive Ian Bremmer tends to leave an impression. And owning his own powerful business gives him the rare luxury of being paid to tell uber truths that most other pundits steer away from. I met him at an RMB conference in Cape Town two years ago, when he explained how his interactions with confidants of then newly elected US President Donald Trump left no doubt that a trade war was coming, it was only a matter of when. In Trump's mind, he said, China had to be stopped before it took America's crown. And best to do it sooner than later. That was an extreme view back then. Trump was seen as all bluster and no follow through. But as we well know, Bremmer was right on the money. Such is his reputation that Bloomberg's senior commentator Tom Keene has made it something of a tradition to kick off his own year by interviewing Bremmer on what he sees for the year ahead. He did so again this week and later caught up with Bremmer's colleague, research strategy head Meredith Sumpter, who added some colour and detail. Trump, Brexit, populism, trade wars, tech giant bashing, extremism…looks like 2019 will have lots of 2018's features. – Alec Hogg

This is The Rational Perspective. I'm Alec Hogg and in this episode, Eurasia's Bremmer picks 2019's biggest risks. Eurasia Group's Founder and Chief Executive Ian Bremmer tends to leave an impression and owning his own powerful business that he started, gives him the rare luxury of being paid to tell the Uber truths, those things that most other pundits steer away from. I met him at an RMB conference in Cape Town two years ago, where he explained how his interactions with confidants with the then newly-elected US president Donald Trump, left him in no doubt that a Trade War was coming. It was only a matter of 'when', he told us. In Trump's mind (Bremmer said), China had to be stopped before it took America's crown and best to do it sooner rather than later. It was an extreme view back then with Trump having been seen by most people as all bluster and no follow-through but as we now know, Bremmer was right on the money. Such is his reputation that Bloomberg Senior Commentator Tom Keene has made it something of a tradition to kick off his own New Year by interviewing Bremmer on what he sees for the year ahead. Tom did it again this week, going along to the 5th Avenue offices of Eurasia in New York. Let's eavesdrop as Bremmer starts with an overview.

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