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: July 9, 2026

Snapshots

Iran

Israel

People pass a large banner depicting U.S. President Donald Trump with a target on his head, during funeral ceremonies for Iran's slain Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, at the Grand Mosalla on July 5 in Tehran, Iran. 

Economics

Energy

Global Trade

Recent tit-for-tat strikes between the United States and Iran signal the rising risk of a return to high-intensity regional conflict following the June 17 memorandum of understanding.


U.S.-Iran Truce at Risk of Collapse Over Hormuz Control Dispute

U.S.-Iran Relations

Sub-Saharan Africa

Asia-Pacific

South Asia

A thermometer reading a high temperature is shown over an image of Earth.

Environment, Science & Technology

Military & Security

The compounding effects of the weather event and disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz are set to drive global inflation and strain agricultural output well into next year.


How the 2026 El Nino Climate Event Will Affect the Global Economy and Security

Philippines

Europe

The NATO headquarters is seen in Brussels, Belgium.

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: Turkey Hosts NATO Summit, Iran Buries Slain Supreme Leader

U.S. Naval Update Map: July 2, 2026

Media

Ukraine

Russia

Forecast Webcast

Russia-Ukraine Conflict

Join our analysts for this webcast recording exploring key topics identified in RANE's 2026 Third-Quarter Geopolitical Forecast.

2026 Third-Quarter Forecast Webcast

Sudan

Saudi Arabia

United Arab Emirates

Sudan's de facto leader and army chief, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, waves to spectators after attending a soccer match at Kober Stadium in Khartoum on May 15, 2026.

The outbreak of the Iran war has redirected Western and Arab diplomatic attention away from Sudan, worsening the country's long-running civil war.

Humanitarian Disaster Looms in Sudan as RSF Prepares New Offensive

China

Computer chips are seen on top of the U.S. and Chinese flags.

The Trump administration's recent shift to a more restrictive, ad-hoc licensing regime for frontier AI models risks slowing U.S. innovation and giving Chinese rivals a competitive advantage.

From Laissez-Faire to Licensing: Understanding Trump's Evolving AI Strategy

U.S.-China Relations

Middle East and North Africa

Eurasia

Cyber

Social Issues

A fragile truce in the Middle East, persistent energy-driven inflation, shifting U.S. trade policy and escalating regional pressures from Europe to Africa will collectively shape geopolitical risk in the third quarter.

2026 Third-Quarter Forecast: An Excerpt

Japan

United Kingdom

India

Cargo ships June 19 off the coast of the Khor Fakkan Container Terminal in Sharjah emirate, along the Gulf of Oman.

The Weekly Rundown: Japan's Takaichi Goes to India, an Unsteady U.S.-Iran Ceasefire

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said the United States was mistaken to believe that Ukrainian strikes on Russian energy infrastructure could pressure Moscow to resume peace talks, warning that escalation could prolong the war and force Russia to create a larger "security zone," Reuters reported on July 9.

Russia, Ukraine: Kremlin Says Ukrainian Strikes Could Prolong War, Not End It

The U.S. Department of Defense is calling on Latin American countries to raise security spending to nearly 3.5% of GDP to combat organized crime, Bloomberg reported on July 8.

U.S., Latin America: U.S. Pushes for Increased Defense Spending Across Latin America

The United States and Iran conducted tit-for-tat attacks for the second consecutive day, during which the United States targeted 90 Iranian military sites, the Ogtay Khan railway bridge and the perimeter of the Bushehr nuclear power plant, Reuters reported on July 9.

U.S., Iran: Attacks Gradually Escalate and Continue Into Second Day

Germany

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz told the Bundestag that Berlin agreed to buy U.S. Tomahawk cruise missiles and station them on German soil, with the deal sealed on the sidelines of the July 7-8 NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, Reuters reported on July 9. 

U.S., Germany: Berlin Strikes Deal To Buy Tomahawk Missiles After Canceled U.S. Deployment

Qatar

QatarEnergy is pausing plans to increase liquefied natural gas production at the Ras Laffan complex following Iran's strike on a QatarEnergy LNG carrier earlier in the week and the subsequent escalation between Iran and the United States, Bloomberg reported on July 9.

Qatar: QatarEnergy Pauses Plans To Ramp Up LNG Output

Syria

U.S. President Donald Trump notified Congress of his decision to rescind Syria's designation as a state sponsor of terrorism, Reuters reported on July 8, citing an unnamed senior U.S. official.

U.S., Syria: Trump Moves To Rescind Syria's State Sponsor of Terrorism Designation

U.S. President Donald Trump said at the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, that Washington would give Ukraine a license to produce Patriot interceptors and "show them how to do it" as Kyiv seeks more air defense missiles to counter Russian missile and drone attacks, Bloomberg reported on July 8. 

Ukraine, U.S.: Trump Floats Patriot License as Ukraine Seeks More Interceptors

Colombian President-elect Abelardo de la Espriella suspended the government transition process and accused outgoing President Gustavo Petro of plotting a coup, El Pais reported on July 7.

Colombia: Transition Suspension and Coup Plot Claims Underscore Heightened Polarization

Americas

SITUATION REPORTS

Russia, Ukraine: Kremlin Says Ukrainian Strikes Could Prolong War, Not End It

U.S., Latin America: U.S. Pushes for Increased Defense Spending Across Latin America

U.S., Iran: Attacks Gradually Escalate and Continue Into Second Day

U.S., Germany: Berlin Strikes Deal To Buy Tomahawk Missiles After Canceled U.S. Deployment

Qatar: QatarEnergy Pauses Plans To Ramp Up LNG Output

U.S., Syria: Trump Moves To Rescind Syria's State Sponsor of Terrorism Designation

Ukraine, U.S.: Trump Floats Patriot License as Ukraine Seeks More Interceptors

Colombia: Transition Suspension and Coup Plot Claims Underscore Heightened Polarization

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