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

Iran

Israel

Lebanon

Indonesia

Myanmar

Philippines

Singapore

Thailand

Europe

France

United Kingdom

Ukraine

Russia

ASEAN leaders hold hands for a group photo during the opening ceremony of the 48th ASEAN summit in Cebu, central Philippines on May 8, 2026. 

Economics

Military & Security

Politics

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.-Iran Tensions Remain High, ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meet With Myanmar

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

U.S. Naval Update Map: July 9, 2026

Snapshots

People pass a large banner depicting U.S. President Donald Trump with a target on his head, during funeral ceremonies for Iran's slain Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, at the Grand Mosalla on July 5 in Tehran, Iran. 

Energy

Global Trade

Recent tit-for-tat strikes between the United States and Iran signal the rising risk of a return to high-intensity regional conflict following the June 17 memorandum of understanding.


U.S.-Iran Truce at Risk of Collapse Over Hormuz Control Dispute

U.S.-Iran Relations

Sub-Saharan Africa

Asia-Pacific

South Asia

A thermometer reading a high temperature is shown over an image of Earth.

Environment, Science & Technology

The compounding effects of the weather event and disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz are set to drive global inflation and strain agricultural output well into next year.


How the 2026 El Nino Climate Event Will Affect the Global Economy and Security

The NATO headquarters is seen in Brussels, Belgium.

The Weekly Rundown: Turkey Hosts NATO Summit, Iran Buries Slain Supreme Leader

U.S. Naval Update Map: July 2, 2026

Media

Forecast Webcast

Russia-Ukraine Conflict

Join our analysts for this webcast recording exploring key topics identified in RANE's 2026 Third-Quarter Geopolitical Forecast.

2026 Third-Quarter Forecast Webcast

Sudan

Saudi Arabia

United Arab Emirates

Sudan's de facto leader and army chief, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, waves to spectators after attending a soccer match at Kober Stadium in Khartoum on May 15, 2026.

The outbreak of the Iran war has redirected Western and Arab diplomatic attention away from Sudan, worsening the country's long-running civil war.

Humanitarian Disaster Looms in Sudan as RSF Prepares New Offensive

China

Computer chips are seen on top of the U.S. and Chinese flags.

The Trump administration's recent shift to a more restrictive, ad-hoc licensing regime for frontier AI models risks slowing U.S. innovation and giving Chinese rivals a competitive advantage.

From Laissez-Faire to Licensing: Understanding Trump's Evolving AI Strategy

U.S.-China Relations

Middle East and North Africa

Eurasia

Cyber

Social Issues

A fragile truce in the Middle East, persistent energy-driven inflation, shifting U.S. trade policy and escalating regional pressures from Europe to Africa will collectively shape geopolitical risk in the third quarter.

2026 Third-Quarter Forecast: An Excerpt

The U.S. Trump administration formally launched a new artificial intelligence cybersecurity vulnerability clearinghouse called Gold Eagle, Politico reported on July 14, citing U.S. officials in a conference call.

U.S.: White House Launches AI-Discovered Cybersecurity Vulnerability Clearinghouse

Acting Venezuelan President Delcy Rodriguez appointed on July 13 the country's ambassador to the United States, Felix Plasencia, as the head of the newly merged Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, El Pais reported on July 14.

Venezuela, U.S.: Venezuela Appoints U.S. Ambassador To Head Foreign and Trade Ministry

The United States is making progress in securing an agreement for a 90-day ceasefire between the Sudanese Armed Forces, or SAF, and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, or RSF, followed by political negotiations, even though both sides are still seeking amendments to U.S. proposals, Ayin Network reported on July 13 based on conversations with unnamed diplomatic sources.

Sudan: U.S. Proposal for 90-Day Ceasefire Makes Progress, but SAF-RSF Disagreements Persist

U.S. President Donald Trump notified lawmakers on July 10 that the United States had started military operations against Iran, Politico reported on July 13, while U.S.-Iran clashes continued on July 14.

U.S., Iran: Trump Notifies Congress of Military Operations, U.S.-Iran Clashes Continue

In a Truth Social post on July 13, U.S. President Donald Trump announced that the United States was reimposing a blockade on Iranian ports and would take a 20% fee from cargo passing through the Strait of Hormuz.

U.S., Iran: Trump Reimposes Blockade on Iran

Leaders of the "coalition of the willing" for Ukraine are meeting in Paris, France, on July 13, with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also attending, to discuss air and missile defense, missile production, joint exercises and Russia's shadow fleet, Le Monde reported the same day. 

Europe, Ukraine: Coalition of the Willing Meets in Paris, Set To Declare Postwar Force Ready

U.S.-Iran technical negotiations are set to continue despite both sides trading fire on July 8-9, Bloomberg reported on July 10, citing an unnamed U.S. official.

U.S., Iran: U.S. Official Claims Iran Negotiations Will Continue Despite Renewed Clashes

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said the United States was mistaken to believe that Ukrainian strikes on Russian energy infrastructure could pressure Moscow to resume peace talks, warning that escalation could prolong the war and force Russia to create a larger "security zone," Reuters reported on July 9.

Russia, Ukraine: Kremlin Says Ukrainian Strikes Could Prolong War, Not End It

Americas

SITUATION REPORTS

U.S.: White House Launches AI-Discovered Cybersecurity Vulnerability Clearinghouse

Venezuela, U.S.: Venezuela Appoints U.S. Ambassador To Head Foreign and Trade Ministry

Sudan: U.S. Proposal for 90-Day Ceasefire Makes Progress, but SAF-RSF Disagreements Persist

U.S., Iran: Trump Notifies Congress of Military Operations, U.S.-Iran Clashes Continue

U.S., Iran: Trump Reimposes Blockade on Iran

Europe, Ukraine: Coalition of the Willing Meets in Paris, Set To Declare Postwar Force Ready

U.S., Iran: U.S. Official Claims Iran Negotiations Will Continue Despite Renewed Clashes

Russia, Ukraine: Kremlin Says Ukrainian Strikes Could Prolong War, Not End It

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