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

Israel

Saudi Arabia

Cambodia

Thailand

India

Pakistan

People watch the USS Gravely, a Navy warship, departing the Port of Spain on Oct. 30, 2025. The U.S. warship arrived in Trinidad and Tobago on Oct. 26, 2025, for joint exercises near the coast of Venezuela, as Washington ratcheted up pressure on drug traffickers and Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro.

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.-Saudi Meeting, Military Escalation in the Caribbean

Thailand's Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul (C) after chairing a National Security Council on Nov. 11 in Bangkok. An armed clash on the Thai-Cambodian border raises the risk of escalations that unwind the two countries' recent peace accord, though a return to full-scale war is less likely due to U.S. economic and security leverage.

While the most likely scenario is recurring but contained flare-ups through early 2026, a more escalatory scenario remains plausible.

More Clashes, but Not Full-blown Conflict, Likely on the Cambodian-Thai Frontier

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

U.S. Naval Update Map: Nov. 13, 2025

Media

Podcasts

Why are Venezuela's relationships with Russia, Iran and China so important to the United States?

Essential Geopolitics: The Primary Drivers and Constraints of U.S.-Venezuela Tensions

Chile's presidential candidate Evelyn Matthei (C) poses with her team after registering her candidacy at the Electoral Service of Chile in Santiago on Aug. 16, 2025.

Economics

Far-right candidate Jose Antonio Kast is most likely to win, portending a shift toward pro-business policies and stricter security measures. But a leftist, center-right or ultra-right president could also be elected, each with different visions for Chile's future.

Chile's Presidential Election: Potential Outcomes and Their Implications

Global Elections

China

Uzbekistan

Tajikistan

Turkmenistan

Kazakhstan

Russia

Kyrgyzstan

U.S. President Donald Trump (C), joined by lawmakers and members of his administration, delivers remarks during a dinner with leaders of Central Asian countries in the East Room of the White House on Nov. 6, 2025.

Energy

The recent C5+1 summit highlighted the U.S.'s desire to boost cooperation with Central Asian countries on trade and critical minerals, but the region's geography, governance and reliance on China and Russia will ultimately limit the impact of such efforts. 

The Promise and Limits of Increased U.S. Engagement in Central Asia

Iraq

Syria

Campaign posters Nov. 6 ahead of Nov. 11 Iraqi parliamentary elections in central Baghdad.

Environment, Science & Technology

The Weekly Rundown: Iraqi Elections, a U.S.-China Deal Enters Effect

U.S.-China Relations

South Sudan

Burundi

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Ethiopia

Kenya

Malawi

Mozambique

Rwanda

Tanzania

Uganda

Zambia

Japan

Europe

The Geopolitics of Trade

Global Trade

Over the next decade, Kenya and Tanzania will compete for the title of East Africa's leading trade gateway, particularly as global demand for Central Africa's critical minerals grows. 

The Geopolitics of Trade: The Race to Unlock East Africa, Part 1 

U.S. Naval Update Map: Nov. 6, 2025

Nigeria

A Nigerian soldier stands guard at a checkpoint at the entrance to Monguno, Borno state, Nigeria, on July 4, 2025. 

Trump wants Nigeria to take action against the armed groups targeting Christians in the country, but Abuja will face challenges in sustaining such operations, which could lead to unilateral U.S. military action if there are fresh instances of intercommunal violence.

Will the United States Take Military Action in Nigeria?

South Korea

The United States and South Korea on Nov. 14 jointly released a fact sheet about their Oct. 29 trade deal, with U.S. tariffs dropping from 25% to 15% and South Korea pledging to invest $200 billion in strategic projects, including energy and artificial intelligence, at a pace of $20 billion per year, but reserving the right to renegotiate if it faces economic difficulties.

South Korea, U.S.: Trade Deal Roughly Outlines Tariffs, Investments, Shipbuilding

U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced on social media that the United States is launching military operation "Southern Spear" to target narco-terrorists in the Western Hemisphere, Axios reported on Nov. 13.

U.S., Caribbean: Operation Announcement Indicates Imminent Military Escalation

The United States has reached framework agreements with Argentina, Ecuador, El Salvador and Guatemala that will remove U.S. tariffs on some foods and other imported goods from these countries while also giving U.S. companies greater access to their markets, Reuters reported on Nov. 14.

Americas: Trade Deals To Help Ease Food Inflation, Secure Market Access for U.S. Manufacturers

American space company Blue Origin successfully landed the first stage of its two-stage heavy-lift New Glenn rocket during its Nov. 13 ESCAPADE launch for the first time, The New York Times reported.

U.S.: Blue Origin Lands New Glenn Rocket’s First Stage in Critical Space Milestone

Cyber

The funding bill signed by U.S. President Donald Trump on Nov. 12 ending the government shutdown included provisions to temporarily reauthorize the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act (CISA 2015) that previously expired on Sept. 30, Cybersecurity Dive reported on Nov. 13.

U.S.: Funding Bill To End Shutdown Temporarily Reauthorizes Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act

Ukraine

Russia-Ukraine Conflict

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the United States has nearly exhausted major sanctions options against Russia after targeting its largest oil companies, Rosneft and Lukoil, in October, Politico reported on Nov. 13. 

U.S., Russia, Ukraine: Rubio Says Sanctions Near Limit as Russian Forces Advance in Pokrovsk

In October, Argentina's assets at the International Monetary Fund increased by $870 million, the same amount that the United States' holdings dropped and the value of a payment Buenos Aires faced on Nov. 1, Bloomberg reported on Nov. 13. 

Argentina, U.S.: Argentina's IMF Payment Underscores Stabilizing Role of U.S. Financial Support

Laos

Myanmar

The United States unveiled a new Scam Center Strike Force, a multi-agency task force to dismantle scam compounds in Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos that defraud U.S. citizens and rely on forced labor, Bloomberg reported on Nov. 13.

U.S., Southeast Asia: Washington Launches Strike Force Targeting Regional Scam Centers

Americas

SITUATION REPORTS

South Korea, U.S.: Trade Deal Roughly Outlines Tariffs, Investments, Shipbuilding

U.S., Caribbean: Operation Announcement Indicates Imminent Military Escalation

Americas: Trade Deals To Help Ease Food Inflation, Secure Market Access for U.S. Manufacturers

U.S.: Blue Origin Lands New Glenn Rocket’s First Stage in Critical Space Milestone

U.S.: Funding Bill To End Shutdown Temporarily Reauthorizes Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act

U.S., Russia, Ukraine: Rubio Says Sanctions Near Limit as Russian Forces Advance in Pokrovsk

Argentina, U.S.: Argentina's IMF Payment Underscores Stabilizing Role of U.S. Financial Support

U.S., Southeast Asia: Washington Launches Strike Force Targeting Regional Scam Centers

Forecasts

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