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

Israel

Syria

A fighter of the Syrian Democratic Forces stands on a road between the Syrian villages of Safa and Tell Brak on Jan. 24, 2026.

Military & Security

The government's deal with the Kurdish-led SDF will reduce sectarian tensions, accelerate a U.S. withdrawal and open space for a Syria-Israel security pact, though risks from local violence and the Islamic State remain.

What a Kurdish Integration Deal Means for Syria's Stability

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

U.S. Naval Update Map: Jan. 29, 2026

Snapshots

The candidates running in Costa Rica's 2026 presidential election participate in a debate at the Supreme Electoral Tribunal in San Jose, Costa Rica, on Jan. 11, 2026. 

Economics

Politics

Although the president cannot run for reelection, his hand-picked successor will likely win the vote, keeping the right wing at the helm.

Costa Rica's Upcoming Election Will Likely Yield Policy Continuity

Palestinian Territories

U.S. President Donald Trump (center) holds up his signature on the founding charter among world leaders during a ceremony for the Board of Peace at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Jan. 22, 2026.

Israel-Hamas Conflict

The U.S.-led endeavor's immediate priority will be expanding aid in Gaza, but internal divisions, international skepticism and Israeli interference will likely undermine its effectiveness, especially if the Israel-Hamas ceasefire collapses.

What To Make of Trump's 'Board of Peace'

The Federal Reserve's headquarters is seen in Washington, D.C.

Trump will soon be able to nominate a new Fed chair and governor. But unless the Supreme Court vastly increases the president's power to dismiss Fed governors, the bank will retain its independence, limiting the risk of market instability.

U.S. Fed Independence: Assessing Threats From Trump Nominations, Court Rulings

India

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio (right) meets with Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar at a hotel in New York City on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly meeting on Sept. 22, 2025. 

Global Trade

A trade deal could gradually reduce barriers in the tech, industrial and energy sectors, but progress will likely remain constrained by U.S. tariff uncertainty and India's reluctance to make concessions in sensitive sectors like agriculture.

Where Things Stand in U.S.-India Trade Talks

U.S. Naval Update Map: Jan. 22, 2026

Sub-Saharan Africa

Benin

Burkina Faso

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Mali

Mozambique

Niger

Nigeria

Sudan

Togo

Structures destroyed in U.S. strikes on jihadist targets in Offa, Nigeria, are seen on Dec. 27, 2025.

New U.S. military action would most likely target jihadist groups, especially in West Africa, but limited strikes in Sudan or the Democratic Republic of the Congo to force belligerents there to de-escalate also cannot be ruled out.

The Outlook for New U.S. Strikes in Africa

Europe

Germany

Finland

Denmark

France

Sweden

United Kingdom

Norway

Netherlands

The HDMS Knud Rasmussen ship of the Danish Navy patrols the waters off of Nuuk, Greenland, on Jan. 20, 2026. 

Trump's threatened tariffs over his bid to acquire Greenland have turned the U.S.-EU trade dispute into a high-stakes geopolitical confrontation, raising the risk of a sustained trade war that would severely strain transatlantic economic ties and NATO cohesion.

Trump's Greenland Tariff Threat Escalates Transatlantic Tensions

Columns

On Geopolitics

China

U.S. protectionism has dramatically weakened the rules-based, multilateral trade regime established after World War II, driving governments to increasingly view trade through a national security lens rather than purely an economic one.

The Geopolitics of Trade: Conclusion

Taiwan

Taiwan's legislature sent a $13 billion supplemental defense budget proposed by the opposition Taiwan People's Party to committee for review, with the new bill a slimmed-down version of the $40 billion budget proposed by President William Lai that the committee has refused to review 10 times, the Taipei Times reported on Jan. 30.

Taiwan, U.S.: Opposition Efforts Unlikely To Sate Washington's Demands on Defense, Trade

U.S. President Donald Trump nominated Kevin Warsh, a former White House and Federal Reserve official, to replace Fed Chair Jerome Powell, whose term as chairman expires in May, the Financial Times reported on Jan. 30.

U.S.: Trump Nominates Kevin Warsh To Be Next Federal Reserve Chairman

Ukraine

Russia

Energy

Russia-Ukraine Conflict

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said a U.S.-proposed pause in Russian strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure had begun overnight and that Ukraine was reciprocating by refraining from attacking Russian energy targets, Interfax-Ukraine reported on Jan. 30.

Ukraine, Russia, U.S.: Narrow Energy Pause Takes Effect as Talks Face Uncertainty

U.S. President Donald Trump issued an executive order late on Jan. 29 declaring a national emergency in response to threats from Cuba and ordering the imposition of tariffs on countries that directly or indirectly sell or provide oil to Cuba.

U.S., Cuba: White House Threatens To Impose Tariffs on Countries That Provide Oil to Cuba

Venezuela's interim President Delcy Rodriguez signed into law a reform of the country's hydrocarbon law, reversing decades of state control and opening the sector to private investors, El Pais reported on Nov. 29.

U.S., Venezuela: U.S. Issues General License After Venezuela Approves New Oil Law

Hong Kong SAR, China

Panama's Supreme Court annulled the contracts held by a subsidiary of Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison to operate two ports on both sides of the country's canal, El Pais reported on Jan. 30.

Panama, U.S., China: Panama's Supreme Court Nullifies CK Hutchinson Ports Contracts

U.S.-China Relations

The United States will replace military and civilian leadership at the Civil-Military Coordination Center, or CMCC, a multinational monitoring body designed to oversee the Hamas-Israel ceasefire and facilitate aid into Gaza, Reuters reported on Jan. 30. 

U.S., Palestinian Territories: U.S. Leadership Changes at Civil-Military Gaza Oversight Body

Australia

The Australian government said a U.S. decision to step back from broad government-backed minimum price guarantees for critical minerals will not derail its national critical minerals strategy, reaffirming plans for a strategic reserve and alternative demand support mechanisms, Reuters reported on Jan. 30.

Australia, U.S.: U.S. Price Floor Pullback Tests Critical Minerals Cooperation

Americas

SITUATION REPORTS

Taiwan, U.S.: Opposition Efforts Unlikely To Sate Washington's Demands on Defense, Trade

U.S.: Trump Nominates Kevin Warsh To Be Next Federal Reserve Chairman

Ukraine, Russia, U.S.: Narrow Energy Pause Takes Effect as Talks Face Uncertainty

U.S., Cuba: White House Threatens To Impose Tariffs on Countries That Provide Oil to Cuba

U.S., Venezuela: U.S. Issues General License After Venezuela Approves New Oil Law

Panama, U.S., China: Panama's Supreme Court Nullifies CK Hutchinson Ports Contracts

U.S., Palestinian Territories: U.S. Leadership Changes at Civil-Military Gaza Oversight Body

Australia, U.S.: U.S. Price Floor Pullback Tests Critical Minerals Cooperation

Forecasts

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