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

Botswana

Lesotho

Namibia

South Africa

Eswatini

Iran

Russia

Vessels at anchorage June 18 in Bandar Abbas, Iran, along the Strait of Hormuz. The U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding signed June 17 is highly likely to remain in effect over the coming week, and negotiations toward a final deal will begin.

Military & Security

Politics

Russia-Ukraine Conflict

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. and Iranian Talks, Colombia's Presidential Runoff

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: June 18, 2026

Snapshots

An Iranian woman walks past a mural depicting Iran and the United States at the negotiation table, painted on the outer walls of the former U.S. embassy in Tehran, on Feb. 6, 2026.

Economics

Energy

While the deal will reduce the immediate threat of renewed conflict, shipping through Hormuz will likely resume only gradually amid the risk that talks stall, flare-ups resume and vessels face renewed harassment.

U.S.-Iran Deal Pauses Conflict, but the Path to Peace Remains Fraught

Europe

France

United Kingdom

French President Emmanuel Macron speaks during a meeting with leaders of the G7 Engagement Groups ahead of the upcoming G7 summit at the Elysee Palace in Paris on June 10, 2026. 

The Weekly Rundown: U.S.-Iran Talks Continue, France Hosts G7 Summit

Middle East and North Africa

Israel

U.S. President Donald Trump holds a press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at his Mar-a-Lago club on Dec. 29, 2025, in Palm Beach, Florida. 

Israel-Hamas Conflict

Declining public approval and notable primary losses for traditional pro-Israel lawmakers suggest that a future U.S. Congress will increasingly push for military assistance to be conditioned.

U.S.-Israeli Ties Likely To Continue Cooling as Public Opinion Sours

China

A digital illustration of Europe.

Environment, Science & Technology

The EU's push to reduce its reliance on foreign technology suppliers risks angering both China and the U.S., while execution will be hindered by domestic industrial constraints and internal political divisions.

Key Takeaways From the EU's Tech Sovereignty Package

U.S. Naval Update Map: June 11, 2026

Iraq

Members of Saraya al-Salam gather during a ceremony in the city of Samarra on June 4, 2026, marking their separation from the Sadrist movement and their integration into the Iraqi security forces.

Several militant factions have recently expressed a desire to integrate into Iraq's government structures, but more hard-line groups are unlikely to follow suit without Iran's approval.

Iraq's Push To Disarm Iranian-Backed Militias Will Have Only Partial Success

Columns

On Geopolitics

A 3D satellite-style visualization of the Strait of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf.

As the Iran war drags on, the Strait of Hormuz is increasingly likely to remain closed for an extended period.

Will the Strait of Hormuz Remain Closed Until 2027?

A passerby walks past the Banco Master building in Sao Paulo on Jan. 22, 2026, after Brazil's central bank ordered its shutdown due to a major liquidity crunch and "serious violations" of financial regulations.

Brazil faces severe institutional friction and heightened market volatility as a widening investigation into massive financial fraud threatens to ensnare prominent politicians, justices and businesspeople.

Deepening Corruption Scandal Could Upend Brazilian Presidential Race

Colombian far-right outsider candidate Abelardo de la Espriella won the June 21 presidential runoff election with 49.66% of the vote, compared with leftist Sen. Ivan Cepeda's 48.70%, according to an initial ballot count, El Colombiano reported the same day.

Colombia: De la Espriella Wins Presidential Vote, Cepeda Waits To Concede

Lebanon

The United States and Iran agreed to establish a deconfliction cell to help ensure adherence to the Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire in Lebanon, Axios reported on June 22.

Lebanon: U.S., Iran Agree on a Ceasefire Deconfliction Mechanism for Lebanon and Israel

On June 21-22, the United States and Iran held their first round of talks since signing a ceasefire-centered memorandum of understanding on June 17, The New York Times reported on June 22.

U.S., Iran: Vance Claims Progress in U.S.-Iran Negotiations

China's Ministry of Commerce on June 22 banned the export of dual-use items to 10 U.S. companies, including rare earth producers MP Materials Corp. and USA Rare Earth, and defense companies Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp. and L3Harris.

U.S., China: China Slaps Export Bans on 10 U.S. Companies, Including Two Rare Earth Producers

U.S.-China Relations

Cuba's Communist Party signed off on a package of economic reforms during a June 17 extraordinary plenary session, though officials said the reforms "in no way constitute a deviation from the socialist project," DW reported on June 18. 

Cuba: Havana Releases Some Details on Economic Reforms

Speaking ahead of a NATO defense ministers' summit in Brussels, Belgium, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced a six-month review of U.S. force posture and basing in Europe, tying its outcome to how quickly European allies assume primary responsibility for the Continent's defense, a June 18 transcript by the U.S. Department of Defense shows.

U.S., Europe: U.S. Launches Force Posture Review as It Presses Europe To Shoulder Its Own Defense

Ethiopia

Egypt

Speaking alongside Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, U.S. President Donald Trump said Ethiopia's Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, or GERD, on the Blue Nile was causing "tremendous problems" for Egypt and that Cairo had been "very unfairly treated," adding that the Nile waters would be a focus of his talks with al-Sisi on the sidelines of the Group of Seven summit in France, Addis Standard reported on June 17.

U.S., Egypt, Ethiopia: Trump Reiterates Support for Egypt in Nile Dispute With Ethiopia

Brazil's Federal Police carried out a search ​and seizure warrant on Sen. Jaques Wagner, a close ally of President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, as ​part of an investigation into the financial fraud and corruption scheme involving Banco Master bank, CNN Brasil reported on June 18.

Brazil: Corruption Scandal Reaches Lula Ally and Lower House Speaker

Americas

SITUATION REPORTS

Colombia: De la Espriella Wins Presidential Vote, Cepeda Waits To Concede

Lebanon: U.S., Iran Agree on a Ceasefire Deconfliction Mechanism for Lebanon and Israel

U.S., Iran: Vance Claims Progress in U.S.-Iran Negotiations

U.S., China: China Slaps Export Bans on 10 U.S. Companies, Including Two Rare Earth Producers

Cuba: Havana Releases Some Details on Economic Reforms

U.S., Europe: U.S. Launches Force Posture Review as It Presses Europe To Shoulder Its Own Defense

U.S., Egypt, Ethiopia: Trump Reiterates Support for Egypt in Nile Dispute With Ethiopia

Brazil: Corruption Scandal Reaches Lula Ally and Lower House Speaker

Forecasts

ANALYSES

SECTIONS

Explore

Subscribe

Help & Support