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

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Mexico

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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

Snapshots

Europe

Economics

Politics

Increased EU purchases of U.S. fossil fuels may ease trade tensions and facilitate talks with the incoming Trump administration, but they are unlikely to alone defuse the risk of tariffs and other trade disputes in the years ahead.

Can the EU Avoid Trump's Tariffs by Importing More U.S. Oil and Gas?

Media

Israel

Palestinian Territories

Saudi Arabia

Turkey

Podcasts

Military & Security

What can Trump's nominees for positions in Middle Eastern diplomacy tell us about his approach to the region?

Essential Geopolitics: U.S.-Middle East Relations Under a Second Trump Term

Assessments

Sub-Saharan Africa

Middle East and North Africa

Asia-Pacific

Eurasia

South Asia

Cargo containers painted with Chinese and U.S. flags. Trade disruptions, shifting military conflicts and domestic political turbulence will shape global affairs in 2025.

Cyber

Energy

Environment, Science & Technology

Israel-Hamas Conflict

Russia-Ukraine Conflict

Social Issues

Trade disruptions, shifting military conflicts and domestic political turbulence will shape global affairs in 2025.

2025 Annual Forecast: A Global Overview

U.S.-China Relations

U.S.-Iran Relations

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

U.S. Naval Update Map: Dec. 19, 2024

President of Argentina Javier Milei speaks during a joint declaration with Prime Minister of Italy Giorgia Meloni (not in frame) on Nov. 20, 2024, in Buenos Aires, Argentina. 

Despite rising poverty and protests, Argentina's President Javier Milei will maintain enough support in 2025 to advance economic reforms that stabilize inflation, attract investment and gradually ease capital controls.

What to Expect From Argentina After Milei's First Year in Office 

Bolivia

Germany

France

(From left to right) Argentine President Javier Milei, Uruguayan President Luis Lacalle Pou, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Paraguayan President Santiago Pena pose for a photo during the Mercosur summit in Montevideo on Dec. 6, 2024. 

The agreement offers significant market access and diversification opportunities for both trade blocs, but it also faces a complex ratification process and potential political backlash in Europe.

25 Years in the Making: Reviewing the EU-Mercosur Trade Deal

U.S. Naval Update Map: Dec. 12, 2024

Columns

On Geopolitics

Iran

Syria

United Arab Emirates

Russia

Rebel fighters celebrate in the streets of Homs, Syria, in the early hours of Dec. 8, 2024, after seizing control of the city.

Syria, the geopolitical proving ground for virtually every major regional power, may be hobbled and damaged after 13 years of civil war. But it still gets a vote in its destiny. 

Syria Sets Out Toward a New and Uncertain Future

Iraq

Yemen

An anti-regime fighter tears off a poster depicting Syrian President Bashar al Assad (left) and his brother Maher at the airport in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo on Dec. 2, 2024. 

With its proxy network weakened, developing nuclear weapons will become a more attractive option for Iran as it tries to rebuild deterrence against the U.S. and Israel.

Assad's Fall in Syria Deals Another Blow to Iran's Axis of Resistance

Chart of stock market investment trading on blue background.

Economic coercion is becoming more prevalent in international politics, with certain countries leveraging their economic power to pursue political goals. 

Economic Power in International Politics

U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Barbara Leaf said the United States would scrap its $10 million bounty on Abu Mohammed al-Golani, Syria's de facto transitional leader and the head of Turkey-backed Syrian militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, after a meeting between the two, the Financial Times reported on Dec. 20. 

Syria: U.S. To Remove $10M Bounty on Syria's Transitional Leader

The leader of Canada's left-wing New Democratic Party, Jagmeet Singh, said in a letter addressed to the Canadian people that his caucus plans to present a formal motion of no-confidence against Prime Minister Justin Trudeau after Parliament returns from the winter break on Jan. 27, 2025, Reuters reported on Dec. 20.

Canada: New Democratic Party Leader Plans No-Confidence Motion Against Trudeau in 2025

A delegation of three U.S. diplomats arrived in Syria early Dec. 20 to meet with militia leaders, civil society members and activists for the first time since the collapse of the Assad regime on Dec. 8, the New York Times reported the same day. 

U.S., Syria: First U.S. Diplomatic Delegation Arrives in Syria

Pakistan

The United States announced new sanctions on Dec. 18 targeting Pakistan's long-range ballistic missile program, including the state-owned National Development Complex that oversees the program, AP reported on Dec. 19.

Pakistan: U.S. Sanctions Pakistan's Missile Program Amid Weapons Proliferation Concerns

China

Japan

Philippines

Taiwan

An annual Pentagon report on China's military detailed on Dec. 18 the faster-than-expected expansion of China's nuclear arsenal to 600 warheads in 2024. 

China, U.S.: Pentagon Report Highlights Escalating Missile Arms Race

U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson scrapped a continuing resolution to fund the U.S. federal government through March 14, 2025, and avoid a government shutdown on Dec. 21 following opposition to the spending bill by incoming President Donald Trump and allies on Capitol Hill, AP reported on Dec. 18. 

U.S.: House Speaker Scraps Spending Bill, Raising Likelihood of Government Shutdown

The U.S. government is weighing whether to ban home internet routers sold by Chinese manufacturer TP-Link as a part of an ongoing investigation into whether the devices are enabling cyberattacks, The Wall Street Journal reported on Dec. 18.

U.S., China: Washington Considers Ban on Popular Chinese Routers

The Brazilian real continued to weaken versus the U.S. dollar despite extraordinary Central Bank measures and Congress's approval of spending cut bills amid investor concerns over the government's fiscal policy, g1 reported Dec. 18.

Brazil: Financial Turmoil to Persist Term as Government Unlikely to Make Fiscal Policy U-Turn

Americas

SITUATION REPORTS

Syria: U.S. To Remove $10M Bounty on Syria's Transitional Leader

Canada: New Democratic Party Leader Plans No-Confidence Motion Against Trudeau in 2025

U.S., Syria: First U.S. Diplomatic Delegation Arrives in Syria

Pakistan: U.S. Sanctions Pakistan's Missile Program Amid Weapons Proliferation Concerns

China, U.S.: Pentagon Report Highlights Escalating Missile Arms Race

U.S.: House Speaker Scraps Spending Bill, Raising Likelihood of Government Shutdown

U.S., China: Washington Considers Ban on Popular Chinese Routers

Brazil: Financial Turmoil to Persist Term as Government Unlikely to Make Fiscal Policy U-Turn

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