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

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

U.S. Naval Update Map: Dec. 18, 2025

Sub-Saharan Africa

Middle East and North Africa

Asia-Pacific

Europe

Eurasia

South Asia

A container ship arrives Oct. 10 at the Port of Oakland, California. In 2026, political calculations among major global players will significantly shape international affairs.

Cyber

Economics

Energy

Environment, Science & Technology

Israel-Hamas Conflict

Military & Security

Politics

Russia-Ukraine Conflict

In 2026, political calculations among major global players will significantly shape international affairs.

2026 Annual Forecast: A Global Overview

Ukraine

Russia

A stock photo shows banknotes of the Russian ruble. 

The European Union using immobilized Russian assets to fund financial support for Ukraine will probably not have major reputational or financial consequences for the eurozone.


Using Frozen Russian Assets To Fund Ukraine Unlikely To Majorly Impact the Euro

South Africa

France

The Ukrainian flag is projected on the facade of Berlaymont, the European Commission headquarters, in Brussels on Nov. 18 to commemorate the Nov. 18, 2024, Russian invasion of Ukraine.

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

The Weekly Rundown: A European Council Decision on Ukraine Financing, South Africa Braces for Commission Findings

Iran

Israel

Lebanon

Palestinian Territories

Yemen

Israeli air defence systems are activated to intercept Iranian missiles over the Israeli city of Tel Aviv amid a fresh barrage of Iranian rockets on June 16, 2025.

If effective, the laser air defense system will significantly reduce the cost of intercepting short-range aerial threats and bolster Israel's multilayered protection against aerial attacks.


The Role of Iron Beam in Israel's Evolving Defense Architecture

U.S. Naval Update Map: Dec. 11, 2025

Jordanian police close the entrance of a Muslim Brotherhood headquarters on April 23, 2025, in Amman, Jordan.

While the White House has initiated a review process to label the Muslim Brotherhood a Foreign Terrorist Organization, it is unlikely to result in a comprehensive ban on the group.

U.S. Unlikely To Broadly Designate Muslim Brotherhood as a Terrorist Organization

China

Philippines

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. delivers his third State of the Nation Address before lawmakers at the House of Representatives on July 22, 2024 in Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines. 

A widespread corruption scandal is threatening to cause political instability in the Philippines, which could lead to policy paralysis and weaken the Philippines' posture against China.

A Corruption Scandal Threatens Political Crisis in the Philippines

Cambodia

Thailand

A Thai soldier points out an area on a map near the Cambodian border during a press visit on Aug. 16, 2025, in Sisaket, Thailand. 

Renewed fighting along the border could surpass the July clashes in scale, and while U.S. pressure will likely compel both countries to return to the ceasefire, the risk of future flare-ups will remain high.

Latest Thailand-Cambodia Clashes Will Test U.S. Appetite for Intervention

Snapshots

The U.S. Navy's Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group participates in joint operations with the U.S. Air Force on Nov. 13, 2025.

Increased military mobilizations, failed negotiations with Maduro and persistent aggressive rhetoric suggest the Trump administration will likely soon escalate its Caribbean military campaign to targeted strikes in Venezuelan territory.

The U.S. Remains Poised To Attack Venezuelan Territory

U.S. President Donald Trump ordered a blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela, Reuters reported on Dec. 16.

U.S., Venezuela: Trump Orders Total Blockade of Sanctioned Tankers Around Venezuela

North Korea

South Korea

The U.S.-led U.N. Command objected to a bill proposed by South Korea's ruling Democratic Party earlier in 2025 that would give Seoul, rather that the U.N. Command, control of nonmilitary access to the inter-Korean demilitarized zone, Yonhap News Agency reported on Dec. 17.

South Korea, U.S.: Unification Ministry Risks U.S.-ROK Rift on DPRK Policy

Burkina Faso

Mali

Syria

Laos

The Trump administration expanded its travel ban to include full restrictions on several sub-Saharan African countries, including Mali and Burkina Faso, Laos, Syria and individuals with Palestinian Authority-issued passports, as well as partial restrictions on several Caribbean and other African countries, the White House announced on Dec. 16.

U.S.: Trump Expands Travel Ban, Effective Jan. 1

The U.S. Trump administration plans to target Russia's energy sector with a new package of sanctions if the Kremlin rejects a peace deal plan that the United States and Ukraine are finalizing, Bloomberg reported on Dec. 17, citing multiple unnamed sources familiar with the plan.

Russia, U.S.: Washington Reportedly Preparing New Sanctions on Russian Energy

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky ruled out recognizing the Donbas region as Russian territory "either de jure or de facto," Interfax-Ukraine reported on Dec. 16.

Ukraine, Russia: Zelensky Rules Out Territorial Concessions in Donbas

Sudan

Saudi Arabia

Sudan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, backed by the Sudanese Armed Forces, or SAF, affirmed SAF Chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan's "keenness" to work with U.S. President Donald Trump to resolve Sudan's civil war between the SAF and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, or RSF, Al Arabiya reported on Dec. 16.

Sudan: SAF Stresses Readiness To Work With Trump To End Civil War

Burundi

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Rwanda

Corneille Nangaa, the leader of the Alliance for the Congo River -- a rebel coalition also known as the AFC and that includes the Rwandan-backed M23 -- announced in a statement on X dated Dec. 15 that the group would unilaterally withdraw its forces from the eastern Congolese city of Uvira at the request of the United States, Reuters reported on Dec. 16.

Congo: M23 Announces Plan To Withdraw From Uvira Amid U.S. Pressure

The Argentine government announced it would adopt a new monetary framework and adjust its currency trading bands according to monthly inflation starting on Jan. 1, 2026, La Nacion reported on Dec. 15.

Argentina: Government Unveils New Currency Framework and Reserve Accumulation Plan

Americas

SITUATION REPORTS

U.S., Venezuela: Trump Orders Total Blockade of Sanctioned Tankers Around Venezuela

South Korea, U.S.: Unification Ministry Risks U.S.-ROK Rift on DPRK Policy

U.S.: Trump Expands Travel Ban, Effective Jan. 1

Russia, U.S.: Washington Reportedly Preparing New Sanctions on Russian Energy

Ukraine, Russia: Zelensky Rules Out Territorial Concessions in Donbas

Sudan: SAF Stresses Readiness To Work With Trump To End Civil War

Congo: M23 Announces Plan To Withdraw From Uvira Amid U.S. Pressure

Argentina: Government Unveils New Currency Framework and Reserve Accumulation Plan

Forecasts

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