The Americas stretch from the Arctic Circle in Canada to the southern tip of Chile. This geographically, culturally and politically diverse region is home to the United States, a nation whose geography helped it become the foremost economic and military power in the world &mdash; an ascendance aided in part by bringing Mexico and Canada into its sphere of influence. Farther south, the nations of South America are like islands, separated by vast spaces of impenetrable mountains, rivers and jungles. Try though these countries may to integrate more closely, deeper ties such as those that characterize North America will prove elusive.

This geographically, culturally and politically diverse region is home to the United States, a nation whose geography helped it become the foremost economic and military power in the world

Americas

Antigua and Barbuda

Argentina

Barbados

Belize

Brazil

Canada

Chile

Colombia

Costa Rica

Cuba

Dominica

Dominican Republic

Ecuador

El Salvador

Grenada

Guatemala

Guyana

Haiti

Honduras

Mexico

Nicaragua

Panama

Paraguay

Peru

Saint Lucia

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Suriname

Bahamas

Trinidad and Tobago

United States

Uruguay

Venezuela

Saint Kitts and Nevis

Greenland

Jamaica

Venezuela's Unraveling

Colombian Peace Process

Security Challenges in Latin America

Tracking U.S. Naval Power

The U.S. and the Balance of Power

The Importance of Mexico

North America Unrivaled

Commodities: A Cautionary Tale

Crossing Borders

Assessments

Iran

Israel

Lebanon

The Ateela 2 Oil Tanker on April 28 on Qeshm Island, Iran in the Strait of Hormuz.

Environment, Science & Technology

Military & Security

Politics

A look at what the coming week will bring -- and a list of recommended RANE articles from the week that was.

The Weekly Rundown: U.S.-Iran Discussions, Brussels To Unveil Tech Sovereignty Package

U.S.-Iran Relations

Snapshots

A fireball and smoke erupt from a building following an Israeli strike in Tyre, southern Lebanon, on May 28.

Israel-Hamas Conflict

The recent expansion of Israeli operations in southern Lebanon demonstrates an effort to degrade Hezbollah's capabilities prior to any finalized de-escalation agreements between the United States and Iran.


The Strategic Implications of Israel's Expanded Lebanon Campaign

Supporters of Colombian presidential candidate Ivan Cepeda wave flags ahead of his closing campaign rally in Barranquilla, Colombia, on May 24, 2026.

Economics

Energy

A left-wing victory would portend increased social spending and policy gridlock, a far-right win would portend austerity and decree-based governance, and a center-right win would foster market-friendly policies and stability.

Colombia's Presidential Election: Potential Outcomes and Their Implications

Global Elections

This map shows the approximate locations of U.S. Carrier Strike Groups and Amphibious Ready Groups.

U.S. Naval Update Map: May 28, 2026

The USS Rafael Peralta implements a maritime blockade against an Iranian-flagged ship attempting to sail toward an Iranian port on April 26, 2026, in the Arabian Sea.

Despite ongoing U.S.-Iran diplomatic engagement, unresolved disputes and continued hostilities make prolonged, unstable containment more likely than a comprehensive, long-lasting peace agreement.

U.S.-Iran Talks More Likely To Contain the War Than Resolve It

Bolivia

Global Trade

The Geopolitics of Natural Resources

Argentina, Bolivia and Chile are poised to benefit from the expected rise in lithium demand in the coming years, but they are unlikely to see a substantial surge in wealth without a more monumental market change.

The Outlook for the Lithium Triangle Amid the Global Energy Transition, Part 2

Argentina, Bolivia and Chile have had varying degrees of success in developing their lithium production capacity, with Chile achieving the greatest success of the three, and Bolivia lagging behind.

The Outlook for the Lithium Triangle Amid the Global Energy Transition, Part 1

Japan

Philippines

Armenia

Kazakhstan

Russia

India

A cargo ship anchored May 16 in the Strait of Hormuz near Larak Island, Iran. Major gaps in negotiations over the Strait of Hormuz and Iran's nuclear program persist, and the U.S.-Iran ceasefire will remain fragile over the next week.

The Weekly Rundown: Rubio Visits India, a Fragile U.S.-Iran Ceasefire

Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche (center) speaks during a news conference announcing the indictment of former Cuban president Raul Castro, at the Freedom Tower in Miami, Florida, on May 20, 2026.

Recent U.S. escalations against Cuba are creating a pretext for kinetic action, most likely a targeted operation to capture key officials, though an airstrike campaign and/or a ground deployment also remain possible.

Assessing the Potential for U.S. Military Action in Cuba

Denmark

U.S. special envoy to Greenland, Republican Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry (center right), and Greenlandic mason and Trump supporter Jorgen Boassen (center left) are pictured in Nuuk, Greenland, on May 20, 2026, on the sidelines of the Future Greenland business fair. 

Ongoing talks with Greenland and Denmark will likely yield a deal that meets most U.S. objectives without requiring formal annexation, though a broader transatlantic crisis remains possible if negotiations collapse.

Can the U.S. Reach a Compromise on Greenland That Averts a Transatlantic Crisis?

Ukraine

Russia-Ukraine Conflict

In an interview with CBS's Face the Nation, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine needs to find a diplomatic path to talks before winter, arguing that Russia began losing the battlefield initiative in December 2025, CBS reported on May 31.

Ukraine, Russia, U.S.: Zelensky Calls for Renewed Talks Before Winter

Far-right outsider ​Abelardo De La Espriella received 43.7% of the votes in Colombia's first-round presidential election on May 31, while leftist Sen. Ivan Cepeda received 40.9%, El Tiempo reported the same day.

Colombia: Espriella Leads First Round Vote as Petro and Cepeda Cast Doubt on Results

Yemen

Kuwaiti air defenses intercepted a drone and missile attack on June 1, the same day that Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed it had responded to a U.S. attack on an Iranian telecommunications tower, AP reported on June 1.

U.S., Iran: U.S. and Iran Renew Clashes, Iran Reportedly Suspends Discussions With Washington

Vietnam

The U.S. Trade Representative launched a Section 301 investigation into Vietnam's intellectual property protection and enforcement practices, Reuters reported on May 29.

Vietnam, U.S.: IP Probe Adds New Pressure to Trade Talks

Australia

United Kingdom

The United States, the United Kingdom and Australia announced that they will jointly develop uncrewed undersea vehicles, or UUVs, marking the first project under Pillar II of their 2021 AUKUS pact, with deliveries set to begin in 2027, Politico reported on June 1.

Australia, U.S., U.K.: AUKUS Partners Announce Undersea Drone Project

Israel's military issued evacuation orders for civilians in the southern suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon, Reuters reported on May 31.

Lebanon, Israel: IDF To Strike Beirut, Deepen Operations as Hezbollah Intensifies Attacks

The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump designated Brazil's two largest organized criminal organizations, Primeiro Comando da Capital and the Comando Vermelho, as foreign terrorist organizations and specially designated global terrorists, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced in a press statement May 28.

U.S., Brazil: U.S. Designates Two Brazilian Criminal Groups as Terrorist Organizations  

Despite reports that U.S. and Iranian negotiators had reached a memorandum of understanding, a May 29 report from Tasnim News, which is linked to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, said the text had not been finalized or approved. 

U.S., Iran: Iranian Media Rejects Reports of a Finalized U.S.-Iran MoU

Americas

SITUATION REPORTS

Ukraine, Russia, U.S.: Zelensky Calls for Renewed Talks Before Winter

Colombia: Espriella Leads First Round Vote as Petro and Cepeda Cast Doubt on Results

U.S., Iran: U.S. and Iran Renew Clashes, Iran Reportedly Suspends Discussions With Washington

Vietnam, U.S.: IP Probe Adds New Pressure to Trade Talks

Australia, U.S., U.K.: AUKUS Partners Announce Undersea Drone Project

Lebanon, Israel: IDF To Strike Beirut, Deepen Operations as Hezbollah Intensifies Attacks

U.S., Brazil: U.S. Designates Two Brazilian Criminal Groups as Terrorist Organizations

U.S., Iran: Iranian Media Rejects Reports of a Finalized U.S.-Iran MoU

Forecasts

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