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

The Pentagon viewed from above.

Military & Security

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

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

U.S. Naval Update Map: Nov. 20, 2025

The clock tower outside of Canada's parliament building is seen in Ottawa, Ontario.

Economics

Global Trade

Politics

Canada's push to revive its economy and diversify its trade and security ties beyond the U.S. will likely see slow progress and could prompt U.S. retaliation, while the associated deficit spending will risk long-term fiscal strain.

The High Stakes of Canada's Attempt To Pivot Away From the U.S.

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.

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

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.

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

United Arab Emirates

Cyber

The U.S. Commerce Department approved the sale of up to 35,000 of Nvidia's GB300 servers or equivalents to both the United Arab Emirates' G42 and to Saudi Arabia's Humain, Bloomberg reported on Nov. 20. 

U.S., Saudi Arabia, UAE: U.S. Approves Sale of Advanced AI Chips to Saudi, Emirati Tech Companies

Laos

Malaysia

Myanmar

Thailand's anti-corruption body publicly warned that Bangkok's crackdown on crime syndicates and money laundering networks is failing because political, bureaucratic and police elites are taking bribes and protecting criminal groups, The Straits Times reported on Nov. 20.

Southeast Asia: Entrenched Scam Syndicates Face More Raids, Though Leadership Remains Insulated

Canada's 13 provinces and territories, plus the federal government, signed the Canadian Mutual Recognition Agreement on Nov. 19 to remove internal trade barriers for thousands of products, according to a statement from British Columbia's provincial government. 

Canada: Agreement Reached To Break Down Internal Trade Barriers

U.S. officials have privately informed individuals in the government and private sector that the plan to place tariffs on semiconductors may not move forward quickly, Reuters reported on Nov. 20.

U.S.: Trump Administration Likely To Delay Semiconductor Tariffs

Lebanon

Lebanon's Prime Minister Nawaf Salam declared Beirut was ready to engage diplomatically with Israel, Bloomberg reported on Nov. 20.

Lebanon, Israel: Lebanon's Prime Minister Reiterates Willingness To Negotiate With Israel

Ukraine

Russia-Ukraine Conflict

Ukraine's military says it used U.S.-supplied ATACMS ballistic missiles to strike targets inside Russia, marking the first such use since U.S. President Donald Trump returned to the White House in January, Reuters reported Nov. 19.

Ukraine: U.S.-Made ATACMS Missiles Fired Into Russia for First Time Under Trump Administration

U.S. and Russian officials have drafted a 28‑point peace framework that would require Ukraine to cede more Donbas territory and accept force cuts, long‑range weapons limits and a rollback of U.S. military aid in exchange for U.S.-backed security guarantees, Axios reported Nov. 18.

U.S., Russia: Draft Peace Plan Pressures Kyiv To Cede Territory and Arms for Security Guarantees

U.S. President Donald Trump authorized the CIA to carry out operations inside Venezuela while reopening communications with Caracas, The New York Times reported on Nov. 18.

U.S., Venezuela: Authorization for Further Covert Acts Indicate Increased Likelihood of Military Attacks

Americas

SITUATION REPORTS

U.S., Saudi Arabia, UAE: U.S. Approves Sale of Advanced AI Chips to Saudi, Emirati Tech Companies

Southeast Asia: Entrenched Scam Syndicates Face More Raids, Though Leadership Remains Insulated

Canada: Agreement Reached To Break Down Internal Trade Barriers

U.S.: Trump Administration Likely To Delay Semiconductor Tariffs

Lebanon, Israel: Lebanon's Prime Minister Reiterates Willingness To Negotiate With Israel

Ukraine: U.S.-Made ATACMS Missiles Fired Into Russia for First Time Under Trump Administration

U.S., Russia: Draft Peace Plan Pressures Kyiv To Cede Territory and Arms for Security Guarantees

U.S., Venezuela: Authorization for Further Covert Acts Indicate Increased Likelihood of Military Attacks

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