Mexico

Economics

Military & Security

Shootings, arson attacks and blockades by the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generacion, or CJNG, in response to the Feb. 22 operation that resulted in the death of the group's leader, Nemesio Oseguera "El Mencho," have declined substantially as of Feb. 27, BorderReport reported the same day.

Mexico: Violence Declines Following Surge After Death of Cartel Leader 

Politics

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum announced that she will send to Congress a bill to reform the country's electoral system by March 2, El Pais reported on Feb. 25. 

Mexico: Government To Present Electoral Reform Proposal

United States

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, or FAA, late on Feb. 10 closed airspace in a 10 nautical mile radius around Texas' El Paso International Airport and an additional area west of the neighboring community of Santa Teresa, New Mexico, along the border with Mexico, for "special security reasons," stating that the restrictions would last until Feb. 20, NBC reported on Feb. 11.

U.S., Mexico: FAA Announces, Then Lifts 10-Day Airspace Closure Around El Paso

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said her administration is seeking the voluntary return of more than 200 mining concessions of inactive projects, El Pais reported on Feb. 9.

Mexico, U.S.: Cooperation on Critical Minerals To Favor Mining Companies, but Mexico's Statist Approach To Persist

The Geopolitics of Water

The U.S. and Mexican governments have reached an agreement regarding a water sharing dispute, as part of which Mexico has committed to continuing to send 432 million cubic meters of water to the United States to settle accumulated outstanding water debt amounting to nearly 1 billion cubic meters, El Pais reported Feb. 3. 

U.S., Mexico: Both Sides Reach Agreement on Water Dispute

Cuba

Energy

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

The U.S. Trump administration is considering imposing a total blockade on Cuba's oil imports as part of broader measures aimed at ousting the current socialist government on the island, Politico reported on Jan. 23. 

U.S., Cuba: Trump Administration Considers Full Oil Blockade on Cuba

U.S. President Donald Trump said during an interview with Fox News on Jan. 8 that the United States would soon conduct operations targeting drug cartels on Mexican soil, The Hill reported the same day.

U.S., Mexico: Trump Says U.S. Will Conduct Operations Against Mexican Cartels

Snapshots

A burned car is seen on a highway near Acatlan de Juarez, Jalisco state, Mexico, on Feb. 22, 2026. The car was allegedly set on fire by organized crime groups in response to the killing of Nemesio Oseguera "El Mencho," the top leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG).

The killing of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel's notorious leader will initially improve U.S.-Mexico ties, but the likely surge in cartel violence will pose long-term risks to businesses and eventually renew pressure for U.S. military action in Mexico.

What a Cartel Leader's Killing Means for Mexico's Security and U.S. Relations

Canada

China

Japan

South Korea

Vietnam

Europe

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a press briefing at the White House on Feb. 20, 2026, after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled against Trump's use of emergency powers to implement international trade tariffs.

Global Trade

The Trump administration will use other trade authorities to replace many of the IEEPA tariffs struck down by the Supreme Court, meaning U.S. trading partners will remain incentivized to engage on trade matters.

What the Supreme Court Tariff Ruling Means for Trump and U.S. Trading Partners

Assessments

American Airlines planes sit on the tarmac at Jose Marti International Airport in Havana on Feb. 9, 2026. 

Facing imminent economic collapse and the loss of key allies, the Cuban government will likely yield to U.S. demands for market liberalization to avoid a total breakdown of state authority while attempting to preserve political control.

Economic Concessions to U.S. Offer Path for Regime Survival in Cuba

Nigeria

Colombia

Venezuela

Greenland

Iran

Israel

Taiwan

Norway

Ukraine

Russia

India

Pakistan

Cyber

Environment, Science & Technology

Russia-Ukraine Conflict

Social Issues

U.S.-China Relations

U.S.-Iran Relations

Science & Technology

RANE's Top 10 Risks for 2026 highlights high-impact, low-probability risks and trends from the annual forecast presented in more extreme terms.

RANE's Top 10 Risks for 2026

A 3D rendering of the Canadian, U.S. and Mexican flags.

The White House is expected to utilize threats of scrapping the trilateral pact in favor of bilateral agreements as a high-stakes negotiating tactic, creating a period of intense business uncertainty and market volatility.

The Outlook for USMCA Renegotiation in 2026

Belize

Dominican Republic

Ecuador

El Salvador

Guatemala

Haiti

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

France

Portugal

Spain

Italy

An anti-tourism protest in June in Barcelona, Spain. Anti-tourism sentiment is certain to grow in major tourist destinations, though it will be unevenly distributed globally, particularly as the tourism sector could face potential challenges in the future.

Anti-tourism sentiment is certain to grow in major tourist destinations, though it will be unevenly distributed globally, particularly as the tourism sector could face potential challenges in the future.

The Causes and Implications of the Rise in Anti-Tourism Sentiment

North Korea

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

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

Columns

On Security

DEA New York special agent in charge speaks to the press in New York City on Feb. 28, 2025, after the former leader of a brutal Mexican cartel, Rafael Caro Quintero, described by the White House as the world's ''most evil'' drug boss, pleaded not guilty to narcotics charges in New York.

Despite the political and diplomatic risks, Trump is more likely than not to launch some direct operations against Mexican cartels before he leaves office, potentially ranging from light and sporadic U.S. drone strikes to more extensive ground operations.

The Outlook for Trump's 'War' on Mexican Cartels

Cambodia

Thailand

A Cambodian soldier stands on a truck with a rocket launcher in Cambodia's Oddar Meanchey province, which borders Thailand, on July 25, 2025. 

The Weekly Rundown: U.S. Tariff Deadline Passes, Thai-Cambodian Border Tensions Persist

Argentina

Bolivia

Brazil

Chile

Costa Rica

Guyana

Nicaragua

Panama

Paraguay

Peru

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. 

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

Poland

Ukrainian, U.S. and Russian delegates meet for peace talks in Istanbul, Turkey, on May 16, 2025. 

The Weekly Rundown: Ukraine-Russia Talks, Mexico's First-Ever Judicial Elections

Mexico is defined by dramatic geographic features that have shaped the country's politics. Forming the southern portion of North America, Mexico borders the tropical Central American isthmus, a broad band that defines Mexico's northern border with the United States. To the east and west, the Sierra Madre Occidental and the Sierra Madre Oriental dominate the Pacific and the Caribbean coasts, forming highlands that cradle of the modern heart of Mexico. The desolate Baja California peninsula shields approaches from the western sea. To the east, the tropical limestone outcropping named the Yucatán peninsula dominates entry from the Caribbean into the Gulf of Mexico. Mexico's central valley, which includes Mexico City and the adjacent Veracruz region, form Mexico's core.     To control Mexico City is to control Mexico, and the greatest conventional threats to Mexico City have traditionally come from the deepwater Port city of Veracruz. Since the 16th century, Spain, France and the United States &mdash; not to mention numerous mutinous factions of the Mexican military &mdash; have used Veracruz to threaten and even conquer what is now Mexico City. Mexico's mountains and frontier territories are traditional hotbeds of unrest. From the rebels of Chihuahua to the drug kingpins of Tierra Caliente and Sinaloa, the historical and ongoing challenge for Mexico is to subdue and incorporate far-flung, geographically-isolated communities. The modern expression of this struggle can be seen in today's war with drug trafficking organizations, but it is a pattern that has been repeated throughout history and has been shaped by Mexico's physical geography. 

SITUATION REPORTS

Mexico: Violence Declines Following Surge After Death of Cartel Leader

Mexico: Government To Present Electoral Reform Proposal

U.S., Mexico: FAA Announces, Then Lifts 10-Day Airspace Closure Around El Paso

Mexico, U.S.: Cooperation on Critical Minerals To Favor Mining Companies, but Mexico's Statist Approach To Persist

U.S., Mexico: Both Sides Reach Agreement on Water Dispute

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

U.S., Cuba: Trump Administration Considers Full Oil Blockade on Cuba

U.S., Mexico: Trump Says U.S. Will Conduct Operations Against Mexican Cartels

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