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

Europe

The U.S. and the EU flags are seen side by side on Nov. 21, 2025, in Brussels, Belgium. 

Energy

Politics

By replacing Russian gas with U.S. LNG, the EU risks becoming reliant on another systemically central external supplier at a time of growing geopolitical instability and transatlantic tension.

The Strategic Risks of Europe's Pivot to U.S. LNG

Snapshots

An aerial photo shows Argentinian police using a water cannon truck against protesters opposing labor reforms on Feb. 11, 2026, in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Economics

Although the labor reform is likely to be approved and may incrementally improve Argentina's hiring climate, its short-term economic impact will be limited.

Argentina's Milei Secures Senate Backing for Market-Oriented Labor Overhaul

American Airlines planes sit on the tarmac at Jose Marti International Airport in Havana on Feb. 9, 2026. 

Military & Security

Facing imminent economic collapse and the loss of key allies, the Cuban government will likely yield to U.S. demands for market liberalization to avoid a total breakdown of state authority while attempting to preserve political control.

Economic Concessions to U.S. Offer Path for Regime Survival in Cuba

Iran

Japan

Thailand

Bangladesh

Campaign posters Feb. 6 of candidates running in the upcoming Japanese House of Representatives election, in Inagi, Tokyo prefecture.

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

The Weekly Rundown: Japan Holds Snap Elections, U.S. Weighs Options After Iran Talks

U.S.-Iran Relations

United Arab Emirates

Ukraine

Russia

Emirati flags on Feb. 4 in Abu Dhabi, UAE. On Feb. 4-5, delegations from Russia, Ukraine and the United States held a second round of trilateral talks in the United Arab Emirates.

Russia-Ukraine Conflict

The talks are unlikely to produce a near-term settlement, as Russia will continue to press its territorial demands while using diplomacy to manage sanctions pressure and build leverage ahead of a spring-summer offensive.

The Limits of Russia-Ukraine-U.S. Talks

China

Russian soldiers wear chemical protection suits as they stand next to a military fueler on the base of a prime mover of Russian Topol intercontinental ballistic missile during a training session at the Serpukhov's military missile forces research institute some 100km outside Moscow on April 6, 2010.

Over time, this will intensify an ongoing buildup of nuclear capabilities across the globe and make crises involving nuclear powers more unpredictable and prone to miscalculations. 


Implications of the Last Major U.S.-Russian Nuclear Arms Control Agreement's Expiration

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: Feb. 5, 2026

India

A freight train on Aug. 26, 2025, in Ajmer India.

A U.S.-India trade deal will bring some relief to Indian exporters, but ambiguities over its scope, implementation timeline and myriad other flashpoints will risk undermining it.

An India-U.S. Trade Deal Will Face Ongoing Hurdles

A man walks past a mural painted on the outer walls of the former U.S. embassy in Tehran, Iran, on Feb. 1, 2026.

Despite recent momentum toward restarting talks, a deal will likely remain elusive due to the U.S.'s maximalist demands and Iran's red lines, sustaining the risk of U.S. (and likely Israeli) military action in the coming weeks. 

Can New U.S.-Iran Talks Avert a Greater Conflict?

Iranian newspapers one of them (R) with a headline in Persian reading "Iran is ready for a big response," Jan. 27 in Tehran in Iran. U.S. President Donald Trump is considering a range of military options against Iran.

The Weekly Rundown: The U.S. and Colombian Presidents Meet, The Threat of U.S. Strikes on Iran

Taiwan

The United States and Taiwan signed the Agreement on Reciprocal Trade in Washington on Feb. 12, solidifying U.S. tariffs on Taiwanese goods at 15% and offering most favored nation-level tariffs for 2,072 Taiwanese goods, the Taipei Times reported the next day. 

Taiwan, U.S.: Trade Deal Signed, Must Pass Taipei's Skeptical Legislature

Switzerland

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Russia, Ukraine and the United States would hold the next round of peace talks in Geneva, Switzerland, on Feb. 17-18, with presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky leading the Russian delegation, Russian state news agency TASS reported on Feb. 13.

Russia, Ukraine, U.S: Geneva Talks To Resume Feb. 17-18

Venezuela's interim President Delcy Rodriguez said Venezuela will hold free and fair elections by the end of U.S. President Donald Trump's term in 2028, NBC News reported on Feb. 12. 

Venezuela: Free and Fair Elections Remain Unlikely, Despite President's Statements

The U.S. Trump administration is reviewing the list of products affected by steel and aluminum tariffs and is planning to exempt some items and halt further additions to the list, the Financial Times reported on Feb. 12.

U.S.: Trump Administration May Exempt Some Steel and Aluminum Products From Tariffs

Germany

The 62nd Munich Security Conference opened on Feb. 13 in Munich, Germany, with an address by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

Germany: Munich Security Conference Kicks Off With Speech by Friedrich Merz

South Korea

Police raided South Korea's National Assembly, the National Intelligence Service and the National Counterterrorism Center in a bid to find evidence linking a right-wing YouTuber to a knife attack against President Lee Jae Myung in 2024, a case that would support Lee's bid for anti-extremism bills, Yonhap News Agency reported on Feb. 12.

South Korea: Lee Seeks To Silence Political Opponents, Risking U.S. Ties

U.S. President Donald Trump is shelving numerous tech restrictions on China to facilitate his April summit with President Xi Jinping in Beijing, according to Reuters sources on Feb. 12.

China, U.S.: Trump Curbing Tech Restrictions as Both Sides Seek Year-Long Deal

According to Indian Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, India's textile exports will enter the United States duty-free if manufacturers use U.S. cotton yarn, the same tariff benefit granted to Bangladesh, Bloomberg reported on Feb. 12.

India: U.S. Tariffs on Select Indian Textile Exports Set To Ease

Americas

SITUATION REPORTS

Taiwan, U.S.: Trade Deal Signed, Must Pass Taipei's Skeptical Legislature

Russia, Ukraine, U.S: Geneva Talks To Resume Feb. 17-18

Venezuela: Free and Fair Elections Remain Unlikely, Despite President's Statements

U.S.: Trump Administration May Exempt Some Steel and Aluminum Products From Tariffs

Germany: Munich Security Conference Kicks Off With Speech by Friedrich Merz

South Korea: Lee Seeks To Silence Political Opponents, Risking U.S. Ties

China, U.S.: Trump Curbing Tech Restrictions as Both Sides Seek Year-Long Deal

India: U.S. Tariffs on Select Indian Textile Exports Set To Ease

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