Colombia

Dominican Republic

Ecuador

Haiti

Mexico

United States

Venezuela

Military & Security

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that the U.S. military struck two alleged drug vessels in the eastern Pacific Ocean on Oct. 21 and 22, killing several alleged drug smugglers, Reuters reported on Oct. 22.

U.S., Latin America: U.S. Military Strikes Against Drug Traffickers Expand to Pacific Ocean

Politics

The Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador, or CONAIE, announced an end to the general strike that resulted in several violent anti-government protests in recent weeks, El Universo reported on Oct. 22. 

Ecuador: Indigenous Association Calls Off Protests After Government Threats To Use Force

Economics

For the second time in two days, Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa signed a decree calling a referendum on constitutional changes to allow for stricter security laws and a constituent assembly to draft a new constitution, El Universo reported on Sept. 20.

Ecuador: Government-Backed Referendum To Fuel Institutional Friction and Polarization 

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited Ecuador on Sept. 4 and met with President Daniel Noboa and Ecuadoran Foreign Minister Maria Gabriela Sommerfeld Rosero, during which Rubio announced that the United States would provide $20 million in new security commitments to the country, including $13 million for general security funding and $6 million for drones, Reuters reported the same day.

U.S., Ecuador: Rubio Pledges Security Funds to Quito, Says U.S. Is Designating Major Gangs as Terrorists

Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa led a march attended by thousands of people in the capital, Quito, to criticize the country's Constitutional Court after it suspended articles from three security laws, Infobae reported on Aug. 12. 

Ecuador: President Criticizes Constitutional Court Over Suspension of Security Laws

Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa proposed holding a new referendum on Dec. 14 with seven questions, including one that would allow the establishment of foreign military bases in Ecuador to combat organized crime, which the National Assembly approved in June but still must be approved in a referendum to take effect, AP reported on Aug. 5.

Ecuador: Noboa Proposes New Referendum, Including Move To Allow Foreign Military Bases

El Salvador

Social Issues

The United States Homeland Security Department announced it will air TV and internet ads across the country and abroad incentivizing undocumented migrants to "self deport" and others not to enter the country illegally, La Jornada reported April 21.

U.S., Latin America: U.S. Anti-Migration Ads to Spark Controversy but Unlikely to Trigger Diplomatic Crises

Ecuador's National Electoral Council released results indicating that President Daniel Noboa won reelection with 55.8% of the vote in the country's April 13 presidential runoff election, defeating opposition candidate Luisa Gonzalez, who received 44% of the vote.

Ecuador: Incumbent Wins Reelection in Presidential Runoff Vote

Assessments

Belize

Cuba

Guatemala

Honduras

Bahamas

Trinidad and Tobago

Jamaica

A U.S. Marine V-22 Osprey takes off from Jose Aponte de la Torre Airport, formerly Roosevelt Roads Naval Station, on Sept. 13, 2025, in Ceiba, Puerto Rico. 

The Trump administration will likely expand its attacks against alleged drug traffickers in the region over the next year, potentially extending to land-based targets, which will create safety, operational and compliance challenges for organizations.

The Outlook for U.S. Strikes on Drug Traffickers in Latin America and the Caribbean

Columns

On Security

Kenya

Madagascar

Nigeria

South Africa

Chile

Peru

Jordan

Lebanon

Morocco

Tunisia

Turkey

Indonesia

Philippines

Thailand

Serbia

Bangladesh

Nepal

Fire rages through the Singha Durbar, the main administrative building for the Nepal government, in Kathmandu on Sept. 9, 2025, after youth protesters set fire to the building. 

Recent events in Nepal, Madagascar and elsewhere show how digitally coordinated, leaderless protests can succeed, but eventually face even larger challenges in sustaining the momentum for change.

Worldwide Gen Z Protesters May Be Disappointed With Their Success

China

North Korea

Ukraine

Russia

India

Helicopters fly in the sky during a rehearsal for a military parade Aug. 24 in Beijing.

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: An SCO Summit, Rubio Closes Security Deals With Mexico and Ecuador

Argentina

Bolivia

Brazil

Costa Rica

Guyana

Nicaragua

Panama

Paraguay

Suriname

Uruguay

(L-R) Colombian Foreign Minister Laura Sarabia, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Honduran Foreign Minister Eduardo Enrique Reina attend a plenary session of the China-CELAC ministerial meeting at the Great Hall of the People on May 13, 2025, in Beijing, China. 

Global Trade

Latin America and the Caribbean will welcome China's increased engagement, but strong ties to the West and China's economic slowdown will limit Beijing's influence in the region.

Despite Stronger Trade Ties, China's Influence in Latin America Will Remain Limited

Iran

Cambodia

Malaysia

Vietnam

Europe

Italy

Chinese President Xi Jinping attends the closing session of the National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing, China, on March 11, 2025. 

U.S.-Iran Relations

The Weekly Rundown: Xi Tours Southeast Asia, Iran-U.S. Nuclear Talks Begin

The outcome of Ecuador's presidential run-off will determine the risk of gridlock, social spending levels, debt risks and efforts to combat violent crime; as both candidates have left the door open to disputing the outcome, a political crisis is also possible

Ecuador Holds Its Presidential Election Run-off 

Jordan's King Abdullah II speaks to the press in the Cross Hall of the White House in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 12, 2024.

The Weekly Rundown: Trump Meets With India and Jordan's Leaders, Ecuador Holds Elections

A woman walks past a mural of leftist presidential candidate Luisa Gonzalez in Quito, Ecuador, on Feb. 5, 2025.

Global Elections

Noboa's reelection would portend more business-friendly policies that slowly improve Ecuador's economic conditions, while a victory by his left-wing challenger would see increased social spending that could jeopardize the country's IMF deal.

Previewing Ecuador's Presidential Election

Angola

Cote d'Ivoire

Ghana

Canada

Algeria

Iraq

Israel

Kuwait

Qatar

Saudi Arabia

Syria

United Arab Emirates

Yemen

Taiwan

Belarus

Pakistan

World map on a dark digital background representing global communication and global finances.

Cyber

Energy

RANE's Top 10 Risks for 2025 highlights high-impact, low-probability risks and trends from the annual forecast presented in more extreme terms.

RANE's Top 10 Risks for 2025

A banner depicts IRGC missile models aimed at Israel on April 16 in the Iranian capital of Tehran. The ongoing confrontation may be entering a de-escalation phase after the April 19 Israeli counterstrike to Iran's April 13 salvo against Israel.

The Weekly Rundown: Israel-Iran Conflict, Ecuador's Constitutional Referendum

Police guard stand outside the Mexican embassy in Quito, Ecuador, on April 8, 2024. 

President Noboa likely hoped the raid would show his commitment to combatting corruption, but it has only left his government with more enemies at home and abroad.

Ecuador's Raid on the Mexican Embassy Risks Backfiring on Its President

Ecuador's flag waves behind rows of coins.

While another IMF program may help Ecuador avoid a greater crisis in the years ahead, the government will continue to struggle to implement crucial structural reforms amid significant political constraints.

Can Ecuador Escape Its Cycle of Economic Instability?

Ecuador straddles the equator on the Pacific Coast of South America. Colombia sits on its northern border, and Peru wraps around its eastern and southern boundaries. Geographical barriers divide the country into three parts. The east is part of the Amazon rainforest, the Andes Mountains run down the center, and the west is in the coastal zone.     The country's major territorial conflict with Peru was settled in 1998. The dispute dated back to the time when Ecuador was part of Gran Colombia, which included Colombia, Venezuela and Panama, in the early 19th century. With the dissolution of Gran Colombia, Ecuador inherited a territorial dispute that took over 150 years to be settled.     Although there is no territorial conflict with Colombia, Ecuador's border with its northern neighbor poses a major security challenge for the government in the capital, Quito, because it is a major route for Colombian drug trafficking and armed groups. Criminals and rebels tend to cross into Ecuador to escape Colombia's security forces. Ecuador and Colombia almost went to war at the beginning of the 21st century when Colombia bombed Ecuadorian territory in an operation against the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia.     The country's core regions are the Quito metropolitan area and Guayaquil, home to Ecuador's major port. Those two areas hold more than half of the country's population. Over 70 percent of Ecuador's population is mestizo, and less than 10 percent is indigenous. However, indigenous groups have clashed frequently with the central government because they oppose oil and mining activities, especially in Ecuador's Amazon region. Oil and mining products are two of the country's key export products, representing almost 40 percent of total exports.

SITUATION REPORTS

U.S., Latin America: U.S. Military Strikes Against Drug Traffickers Expand to Pacific Ocean

Ecuador: Indigenous Association Calls Off Protests After Government Threats To Use Force

Ecuador: Government-Backed Referendum To Fuel Institutional Friction and Polarization

U.S., Ecuador: Rubio Pledges Security Funds to Quito, Says U.S. Is Designating Major Gangs as Terrorists

Ecuador: President Criticizes Constitutional Court Over Suspension of Security Laws

Ecuador: Noboa Proposes New Referendum, Including Move To Allow Foreign Military Bases

U.S., Latin America: U.S. Anti-Migration Ads to Spark Controversy but Unlikely to Trigger Diplomatic Crises

Ecuador: Incumbent Wins Reelection in Presidential Runoff Vote

Forecasts

ANALYSES

SECTIONS

Explore

Subscribe

Help & Support