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

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

U.S. Naval Update Map: Dec. 4, 2025

Europe

Eurasia

Ukraine

Russia

Russia's President Vladimir Putin, accompanied by Kremlin economic envoy Kirill Dmitriev and Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov, meets with US special envoy Steve Witkoff and US President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner at the Kremlin in Moscow on Dec. 2, 2025.

Economics

Energy

Military & Security

Politics

Russia-Ukraine Conflict

Fundamental disagreements between Ukraine and Russia over territorial concessions and security guarantees suggest that peace negotiations are unlikely to lead to a comprehensive breakthrough.

Despite U.S. Diplomatic Push, Ukraine Peace Still a Long Way Off

China

India

Russian President Vladimir Putin greets Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for their bilateral meeting during the 2025 Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit.

Global Trade

A look at what the coming week will bring -- and a list of recommended RANE articles from the week that was.

The Weekly Rundown: Putin-Modi Meeting, Honduras General Election

United Kingdom

Portugal

Spain

People visit the 1627 Pilgrim Village at "Plimoth Plantation," where role-players portray pilgrims seven years after the arrival of the Mayflower, in Plymouth, Massachusetts.

On Thanksgiving, the United States celebrates the Plymouth Colony. However, few know that New England's colonization was a response to major geopolitical pressures -- particularly England's struggle against the Spanish both on the Continent and in the New World.

Thanksgiving and Puritan Geopolitics in the Americas

While efforts by China and others to de-dollarize their international trade will fragment the international trade financing regime to some extent, they will do little to undermine the dollar's dominance.

The Geopolitics of Trade: De-dollarization and International Trade

U.S.-China Relations

U.S. Naval Update Map: Nov. 26, 2025

Smoke rises in the background as a Ukrainian flag flutters in the wind following a mass overnight Russian drone and missile attacks, in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv on Nov. 19, 2025. 

European efforts to adjust core elements of Trump's plan won't shield Ukraine from his latest threat to withdraw support, and Europe's limited leverage and internal constraints mean it is unlikely to sustain Kyiv's defense alone if talks with the White House fail.

What To Make of Europe's Counterproposal to the U.S. Ukraine Peace Plan

Angola

South Africa

Japan

South Korea

Banners bearing portraits of leaders of the G20 on Nov. 20 in Johannesburg. The South African government has focused the G20 summit's agenda on issues key to African countries.

The Weekly Rundown: A High-Stakes British Budget, South Africa Hosts the G20

Snapshots

Ukrainian artillerymen operate a U.S.-made M-114 howitzer near Pokrovsk, Ukraine, on Oct. 16, 2025.

Trump has given Ukraine until Nov. 27 to accept a plan that would freeze the war on terms favorable to Moscow, or face U.S. aid cuts. But Kyiv is unlikely to accede, instead relying on European support to continue fighting.

Ukraine Likely To Reject Trump's Peace Plan Ultimatum, Prolonging the War

View of a Honduran national flag at La Laguna neighborhood, in the north of Tegucigalpa, on Nov. 11, 2025. 

Honduras' next government will face legislative gridlock, political instability and unrest, regardless of the victor.

The Challenges Facing Honduras' Upcoming General Election

Global Elections

Presidential candidate Salvador Nasralla alleged fraud in Honduras' Nov. 30 general election, claiming that "an algorithm changed the data" to benefit candidate Nasry Asfura, Reuters reported on Dec. 4. 

Honduras: Presidential Candidate Alleges Manipulation of Election Results Amid High Political Tensions

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Rwanda

President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo Felix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame signed the "Washington Accords," in which both sides reiterated their commitment to implementing their U.S.-brokered June peace deal, the U.S. State Department said in a press release on Dec. 4.

Congo, Rwanda: Tshisekedi Signs Peace Deal With Kagame, Strategic Partnership With U.S.

Late on the night of Dec. 4, the U.S. Trump administration published its 33-page National Security Strategy, which outlined an "America First" framework that emphasized U.S. sovereignty and retrenchment over past cornerstones of U.S. foreign policy like alliance structures and globalization. 

U.S.: National Security Strategy Lays Out Trump Administration's Priorities

U.S. President Donald Trump described the path toward Russia-Ukraine peace talks as "unclear," Reuters reported on Dec. 3. 

Russia, U.S.: Peace Talks Stall as Putin Issues Donbas Ultimatum

The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump paused plans to sanction China's Ministry of State Security over its role in the 2024 major hack on U.S. infrastructure called Salt Typhoon, according to Financial Times sources on Dec. 4.

U.S., China: Trump Pauses Sanctions, Constrains Export Curbs To Support China Deal

Australia

Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles confirmed formal receipt of the United States' review of AUKUS Pillar I and reiterated that Washington remains "100% supportive" of the nuclear-powered submarine program as Australia "works through" the document, the Australian Financial Review reported on Dec. 4.

Australia, U.S.: Canberra Receives Pentagon's AUKUS Review

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum announced she will increase the country's minimum wage by 13% in 2026, and a plan to gradually reduce the working week from 48 hours to 40 hours by 2030, El Pais reported Dec. 3.

Mexico: Sheinbaum Announces Minimum Wage Increase, Plan to Reduce Workweek

Israel

Palestinian Territories

Israel-Hamas Conflict

Israeli officials said they had received the remains of a Thai worker killed in the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack on southern Israel, leaving just one more body in the Gaza Strip of the 251 taken that day and signalling the end of the first phase of the U.S.-brokered Israel-Hamas ceasefire, The Times of Israel reported on Dec. 4.

Israel, Gaza: Second-to-Last Hostage Handed Over, Trump Insists Second Ceasefire Phase Is Incoming

Americas

SITUATION REPORTS

Honduras: Presidential Candidate Alleges Manipulation of Election Results Amid High Political Tensions

Congo, Rwanda: Tshisekedi Signs Peace Deal With Kagame, Strategic Partnership With U.S.

U.S.: National Security Strategy Lays Out Trump Administration's Priorities

Russia, U.S.: Peace Talks Stall as Putin Issues Donbas Ultimatum

U.S., China: Trump Pauses Sanctions, Constrains Export Curbs To Support China Deal

Australia, U.S.: Canberra Receives Pentagon's AUKUS Review

Mexico: Sheinbaum Announces Minimum Wage Increase, Plan to Reduce Workweek

Israel, Gaza: Second-to-Last Hostage Handed Over, Trump Insists Second Ceasefire Phase Is Incoming

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