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

Snapshots

Iran

The USS Rafael Peralta implements a maritime blockade against an Iranian-flagged ship attempting to sail toward an Iranian port on April 26, 2026, in the Arabian Sea.

Military & Security

Politics

Despite ongoing U.S.-Iran diplomatic engagement, unresolved disputes and continued hostilities make prolonged, unstable containment more likely than a comprehensive, long-lasting peace agreement.

U.S.-Iran Talks More Likely To Contain the War Than Resolve It

U.S.-Iran Relations

Assessments

Bolivia

Economics

Environment, Science & Technology

Global Trade

The Geopolitics of Natural Resources

Argentina, Bolivia and Chile are poised to benefit from the expected rise in lithium demand in the coming years, but they are unlikely to see a substantial surge in wealth without a more monumental market change.

The Outlook for the Lithium Triangle Amid the Global Energy Transition, Part 2

Argentina, Bolivia and Chile have had varying degrees of success in developing their lithium production capacity, with Chile achieving the greatest success of the three, and Bolivia lagging behind.

The Outlook for the Lithium Triangle Amid the Global Energy Transition, Part 1

Israel

Lebanon

Japan

Philippines

Armenia

Kazakhstan

Russia

India

A cargo ship anchored May 16 in the Strait of Hormuz near Larak Island, Iran. Major gaps in negotiations over the Strait of Hormuz and Iran's nuclear program persist, and the U.S.-Iran ceasefire will remain fragile over the next week.

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

The Weekly Rundown: Rubio Visits India, a Fragile U.S.-Iran Ceasefire

Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche (center) speaks during a news conference announcing the indictment of former Cuban president Raul Castro, at the Freedom Tower in Miami, Florida, on May 20, 2026.

Energy

Recent U.S. escalations against Cuba are creating a pretext for kinetic action, most likely a targeted operation to capture key officials, though an airstrike campaign and/or a ground deployment also remain possible.

Assessing the Potential for U.S. Military Action in Cuba

Denmark

U.S. special envoy to Greenland, Republican Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry (center right), and Greenlandic mason and Trump supporter Jorgen Boassen (center left) are pictured in Nuuk, Greenland, on May 20, 2026, on the sidelines of the Future Greenland business fair. 

Ongoing talks with Greenland and Denmark will likely yield a deal that meets most U.S. objectives without requiring formal annexation, though a broader transatlantic crisis remains possible if negotiations collapse.

Can the U.S. Reach a Compromise on Greenland That Averts a Transatlantic Crisis?

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

U.S. Naval Update Map: May 21, 2026

Media

Podcasts

Cyber

Could a single AI model render decades of corporate cybersecurity obsolete overnight?

The Decision Advantage: Will Mythos Change the Cybersecurity Landscape for Better or for Worse? 

Egypt

Jordan

Palestinian Territories

Qatar

Saudi Arabia

Syria

Turkey

United Arab Emirates

Yemen

United Kingdom

Right-wing activists gather with Israeli flags outside the Damascus Gate of the walled Old City of Jerusalem on May 26, 2025, during a flag march for Jerusalem Day, commemorating the Israeli army's 1967 capture of the city's eastern sector during the Arab-Israeli war.

Israel's quest for middle-power status will be defined by its ability to unify its Jerusalem core, which has remained divided throughout the modern state's history.

The Modern Geopolitics of Israel

China

South Korea

Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) and Chinese President Xi Jinping on Sept. 3, 2025, in Beijing's Tiananmen Square.

The Weekly Rundown: Elevated Tensions in the Middle East, Putin Heads to Beijing

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan signed a draft framework agreement on U.S.-Armenian cooperation over the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity and signed a memorandum on critical minerals and rare earths during Rubio's one-hour visit to Yerevan, Armenpress reported May 26.

U.S., Armenia: Countries Sign Partnership Deal Ahead of Armenian Elections

China's foreign ministry spokesperson on May 25 said China's export restrictions on dual-use items like critical minerals to Japan were intended to stop Japan's "remilitarization" and nuclear ambitions.

China, Japan: Beijing's Mineral Export Curbs Likely To Persist Through 2026

Australia

Fiji

Top diplomats from the Quad -- a security grouping of the United States, Japan, India and Australia -- met in New Delhi, India, where they agreed to help the Pacific island nation of Fiji expand and modernize one of its ports, marking the group's first joint infrastructure project, AP reported on May 26.

U.S., Japan, India, Australia: Quad Resumes Engagement With Modest Deliverables

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith announced on May 21 that the province will hold a non-binding referendum in October asking residents whether Alberta should remain part of Canada, Reuters reported the same day.

Canada: Alberta Announces Referendum on Whether to Begin Independence Legal Process

Europe

Mexico and the European Union will sign a Modernised Global Agreement and Interim Trade Agreement on May 22 at the eighth EU-Mexico Summit in Mexico City, La Jornada reported.

Europe, Mexico: EU-Mexico Deals To Facilitate Investments, but Significant Trade Diversification Unlikely  

Ukraine

Russia-Ukraine Conflict

The U.S. State Department approved a possible $108.1 million Foreign Military Sale to Ukraine for HAWK Missile System Sustainment and related equipment, Reuters reported May 21.

Ukraine, U.S.: Trump Administration Approves HAWK Air Defense Support Package

The United States' Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) on May 21 sanctioned nine Hezbollah-aligned individuals in Lebanon (including sitting Hezbollah members of parliament), Lebanese military and security officials, and Iran's designated ambassador to Lebanon, accusing them of helping Hezbollah preserve influence inside Lebanese state institutions and obstructing efforts to disarm the group, Reuters reported the same day.

U.S., Lebanon: Trump Administration Sanctions Lebanese Officials Over Hezbollah Influence

Taiwan

U.S. Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao ​told a Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee hearing that a pending $14 billion arms sale to Taiwan would be paused to ensure sufficient air defense munitions for the Iran war, Reuters reported May 22.

U.S., Taiwan: Trump Administration Delays Arms Sale, Likely for China Trade Benefits

Americas

SITUATION REPORTS

U.S., Armenia: Countries Sign Partnership Deal Ahead of Armenian Elections

China, Japan: Beijing's Mineral Export Curbs Likely To Persist Through 2026

U.S., Japan, India, Australia: Quad Resumes Engagement With Modest Deliverables

Canada: Alberta Announces Referendum on Whether to Begin Independence Legal Process

Europe, Mexico: EU-Mexico Deals To Facilitate Investments, but Significant Trade Diversification Unlikely

Ukraine, U.S.: Trump Administration Approves HAWK Air Defense Support Package

U.S., Lebanon: Trump Administration Sanctions Lebanese Officials Over Hezbollah Influence

U.S., Taiwan: Trump Administration Delays Arms Sale, Likely for China Trade Benefits

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