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

China

Europe

Ukraine

Russia

India

Russian President Vladimir Putin greets Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for their bilateral meeting during the 2025 Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit.

Economics

Energy

Global Trade

Military & Security

Politics

Russia-Ukraine Conflict

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

The Weekly Rundown: Putin-Modi Meeting, Honduras General Election

United Kingdom

Portugal

Spain

People visit the 1627 Pilgrim Village at "Plimoth Plantation," where role-players portray pilgrims seven years after the arrival of the Mayflower, in Plymouth, Massachusetts.

On Thanksgiving, the United States celebrates the Plymouth Colony. However, few know that New England's colonization was a response to major geopolitical pressures -- particularly England's struggle against the Spanish both on the Continent and in the New World.

Thanksgiving and Puritan Geopolitics in the Americas

While efforts by China and others to de-dollarize their international trade will fragment the international trade financing regime to some extent, they will do little to undermine the dollar's dominance.

The Geopolitics of Trade: De-dollarization and International Trade

U.S.-China Relations

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

U.S. Naval Update Map: Nov. 26, 2025

Smoke rises in the background as a Ukrainian flag flutters in the wind following a mass overnight Russian drone and missile attacks, in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv on Nov. 19, 2025. 

European efforts to adjust core elements of Trump's plan won't shield Ukraine from his latest threat to withdraw support, and Europe's limited leverage and internal constraints mean it is unlikely to sustain Kyiv's defense alone if talks with the White House fail.

What To Make of Europe's Counterproposal to the U.S. Ukraine Peace Plan

Angola

South Africa

Japan

South Korea

Banners bearing portraits of leaders of the G20 on Nov. 20 in Johannesburg. The South African government has focused the G20 summit's agenda on issues key to African countries.

The Weekly Rundown: A High-Stakes British Budget, South Africa Hosts the G20

Snapshots

Ukrainian artillerymen operate a U.S.-made M-114 howitzer near Pokrovsk, Ukraine, on Oct. 16, 2025.

Trump has given Ukraine until Nov. 27 to accept a plan that would freeze the war on terms favorable to Moscow, or face U.S. aid cuts. But Kyiv is unlikely to accede, instead relying on European support to continue fighting.

Ukraine Likely To Reject Trump's Peace Plan Ultimatum, Prolonging the War

View of a Honduran national flag at La Laguna neighborhood, in the north of Tegucigalpa, on Nov. 11, 2025. 

Honduras' next government will face legislative gridlock, political instability and unrest, regardless of the victor.

The Challenges Facing Honduras' Upcoming General Election

Global Elections

Syria

Syria's interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa delivers a speech in Damascus on July 3, 2025, during the unveiling of the "New Visual Identity of the Syrian Arab Republic." 

The transitional government's decision will boost reconstruction and counter-terrorism efforts, but it will also risk alienating internal hard-liners and could eventually fuel an Islamic State resurgence if Syria's economic recovery stalls.

The Implications of Syria Joining the U.S.-Led Fight Against the Islamic State

The Pentagon viewed from above.

A strategic shift to prioritize commercially available technology over bespoke solutions aims to deliver capabilities faster, though it faces constraints and introduces risks to quality and cost.

New U.S. Defense Acquisition Reforms Offer Opportunities for Improvements, but Longstanding Constraints Remain

Russian President Vladimir Putin hosted U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner for a five-hour meeting in Moscow to discuss a U.S.-proposed peace framework, Reuters reported on Dec. 2.

Russia, U.S.: Peace Talks With Putin Yield No Immediate Breakthrough

Sudan

Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, or RSF, seized the town of Babanusa in the central West Kordofan state from the Sudanese Armed Forces, or SAF, following a two-year siege, Sudan War Monitor reported on Dec. 1. 

Sudan: RSF Captures Babanusa Town in West Kordofan Despite Unilateral Truce 

Israel

U.S. President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social in support of Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa and said it was "very important that Israel maintain a strong and true dialogue with Syria," Axios reported on Dec. 1.

Israel, Syria: U.S. Increasingly Worried by Israeli Actions in Syria

European Defense Commissioner Andrius Kubilius confirmed in a Dec. 1 post on X that all 19 participating EU member states had submitted national investment plans for the Security Action for Europe (SAFE) loan facility by the Nov. 30 deadline, adding that 15 of the plans included Ukraine.

EU: Defense Joint-Procurement Loan Scheme Progresses, Canada Joins

Taiwan

Taiwan's opposition Kuomintang (KMT) party and Taiwan People's Party (TPP) decided not to move President William Lai's proposed $40 billion supplemental defense budget through committees for review, the South China Morning Post reported Dec. 2.

Taiwan: Legislature Rejects Lai's Defense Spending Plan

The Sudanese Armed Forces, or SAF, offered Russia a 25-year deal to establish its first African naval facility at Port Sudan, which would be able to accommodate up to 300 personnel and four warships, The Wall Street Journal reported Dec. 1.

Sudan: SAF Offers Russia Naval Base as U.S. Increases Pressure Over Truce, Chemical Weapons Use

U.S. and Ukrainian negotiators met for several hours in Florida, where both sides described "productive" progress on a revised U.S. peace plan, Reuters reported Dec.1.

U.S., Ukraine: Florida Talks Advance Revised Peace Plan but Core Disputes Persist

U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed reports that he spoke with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro over the phone, Reuters reported Nov. 30. On Nov. 29, Trump posted on social media that the airspace above and surrounding Venezuela should be considered "closed in its entirety."

U.S., Venezuela: Failed Attempt at Talks, Trump's Airspace Closure Warning Presage Imminent U.S. Attacks

Americas

SITUATION REPORTS

Russia, U.S.: Peace Talks With Putin Yield No Immediate Breakthrough

Sudan: RSF Captures Babanusa Town in West Kordofan Despite Unilateral Truce

Israel, Syria: U.S. Increasingly Worried by Israeli Actions in Syria

EU: Defense Joint-Procurement Loan Scheme Progresses, Canada Joins

Taiwan: Legislature Rejects Lai's Defense Spending Plan

Sudan: SAF Offers Russia Naval Base as U.S. Increases Pressure Over Truce, Chemical Weapons Use

U.S., Ukraine: Florida Talks Advance Revised Peace Plan but Core Disputes Persist

U.S., Venezuela: Failed Attempt at Talks, Trump's Airspace Closure Warning Presage Imminent U.S. Attacks

Forecasts

ANALYSES

SECTIONS

Explore

Subscribe

Help & Support