
Americas
List of Americas articles
It’s Been a Chilling Week for Free Speech in America
Trump’s attacks hit a “new low,” the head of the Committee to Protect Journalists said.
Trump Presents Ukraine With a ‘Very Tough Choice’
Zelensky said he’s being asked to decide between Ukraine losing its dignity or losing a key partner.
How Solar Energy Could Transform Geopolitics
Environmentalist Bill McKibben on the incredible growth of clean energy in 2025.
Foreign-Policy Fantasy Literature
Under Trump 2.0, a new book by policymaking heavyweights is an exercise in absurdity.
How Yesterday’s Fiction Foretells Tomorrow’s Politics
From medieval Europe to the Trump era, life really does imitate art.
The U.N.’s Latest Haiti Mandate Is a Rebrand, Not a Rethink
The Gang Suppression Force repackages the same strategies that have failed the country for decades.
You Should Be Reading This on TikTok
Why Washington’s foreign-policy community needs to take its conversation to a new platform.
Latin America’s Ascendant Right Is Tested at the Ballot Box
Weekend elections in Chile and Ecuador offer a snapshot of a regional trend.
Trump Turns His Eye to Sudan
The U.S. president said he’ll work with regional partners to help end Sudan’s civil war.
The Dire Need for International Pressure to End the War in Sudan
The head of the Danish Refugee Council speaks about what she learned after meeting Sudanese refugees in Chad.
It’s Time to Trust the Global South
As Europeans debate who will fill the U.S. role on the world stage, an answer may already be apparent.
What the World Missed in the Claudia Sheinbaum Groping Story
The president’s announcement of a crackdown on gender-based violence ignores its drivers.
U.S.-Saudi Bonhomie Masks Divide Over Nuclear Technology
The Saudi crown prince’s flashy trip to Washington was not enough to secure a formal atomic cooperation accord.
The Good News on Women’s Rights
How some countries are quietly advancing progress.
What to Know About the Secret U.S.-Russia Peace Plan for Ukraine
Steve Witkoff reportedly hashed the details out with Putin’s envoy in Miami last month.
Maduro Needs a Golden Parachute
The only way to avoid war in Venezuela may be if its leader doesn’t fear leaving office.
Putin’s Unlikely Envoy to Washington
Kirill Dmitriev is a prominent purveyor of the Kremlin’s line—but real power may lie elsewhere.
Why Is Washington Acting Like a Revisionist Power?
The U.S. made a global order that it’s now obsessed with overthrowing.
Techno-Optimism Can’t Save Us From Climate Change
Hoping blindly for a technological solution for climate change that may never come is no solution.
Why Trump’s Justifications for Drone Killings Fall Short
Whatever the administration says, the U.S. is not actually at war with nonstate actors
Should U.S. Development Loans Go to Rich Countries?
The U.S. Development Finance Corporation was created to help alleviate global poverty. Trump has other ideas.
The Perils and Pitfalls of a U.S.-Saudi Defense Pact
U.S. troops would be obliged to defend Riyadh.
What to Expect From Trump’s Meeting With MBS
The crown prince’s visit could result in a new U.S.-Saudi defense agreement.
How Mamdani Taps Into an American Socialist Tradition
The movement’s founders echoed the words of Thomas Paine and Abraham Lincoln much more than Karl Marx.
The Trump Trade Tracker
Switzerland cuts a deal—plus the latest global picture on Trump’s tariff regime.
Who the Hell Is James Garfield?
Netflix’s “Death by Lightning” is a reminder that heroic individuals can emerge in trying hours.
How Chile Was Persuaded to Vote ‘No’ to Dictatorship
Revisiting Pablo Larraín’s feature film about the advertising campaign that sent Pinochet packing.
Local Meets Global at COP30 in Belém
Latin American climate solutions are on display at the annual summit.
American Automakers Need Chinese Batteries
High political walls are hurting an industry vital to the character of the country.
U.S. Allies Turn Against Trump’s Drug Boat War
Western partners are distancing themselves from the U.S. operation.
Making Sense of the World Energy Outlook
The energy transition is not inevitable—but neither is business as usual.
The Voice of Venezuela’s Opposition
María Corina Machado won the Nobel Peace Prize—but the fight for democracy is far from over.
How Venezuela Fits Into Trump’s Strategy for Latin America
And how the region is navigating a changed United States.
Brazil Tries to Keep Climate Cooperation Alive
At COP30, the global energy transition is moving forward without the United States.
The U.S. President Should Practice for a Nuclear Crisis
The commander in chief gets almost no preparation for the ultimate decision. That needs to change.
Washington Must Confront Abu Dhabi Over Sudan
If Trump truly wants to be a peacemaker, he should banish the UAE from the negotiating table.
Trump’s ‘War on Drugs’ Will Work About as Well as the Last One
You can’t bomb your way out of an illicit market.
Shutdown Deal Gives Laid-Off U.S. Diplomats Hope for Reprieve
The continuing resolution could postpone the end for some State Department employees on leave.
Tungsten Is the Next Flash Point in the Resource Race
Alarmed by Beijing’s rare earths chokehold, Washington is scrambling to plug other potential vulnerabilities.
Chile Is Making an Unprecedented Right Turn
It’s Latin America’s traditional beacon of stability—and the next country to vote for the far right.
Doha Is Still Counting on Washington
After suffering two attacks, Qatar is doubling down on its security strategy.
China Makes a Tech Splash in Portugal
Beijing dabbles in diplomacy at Web Summit.
Canadian Ostriches Have Become Martyrs for the U.S. Right
How a fight over culling birds turned into an anti-government flash point.
Trump’s Tariffs Threaten the End of Neutrality
Now even Switzerland can’t escape great-power politics.
The Nostalgic Delusion of 1989
The U.S. military buildup around Venezuela has drawn comparisons to past regime change in Panama. But Washington cannot invade its way to democracy in Caracas.
The Would-Be Dictator’s Army
The United States is about to celebrate a very worrisome Veterans Day.
Latin America’s Disjointed Reaction to Trump’s Drug Boat War
The region is facing historic levels of fragmentation, one expert said.
Violence Is the Heart of Brazilian Politics
An extraordinarily deadly police raid in Rio was anything but an aberration.
Will Israel Wreck the U.S.-Syria Romance?
By embracing Sharaa, Trump hopes to bring Syria into the U.S. order.
Why Does the U.S. Set Presidential Term Limits?
The 22nd Amendment was nothing but an act of vengeance against Roosevelt, Reagan believed.
In Unprecedented Times, Congress Evades Responsibility
On constitutional matters of war powers and tariffs, Republican lawmakers have abandoned the field to Trump.
The Forgotten Visionary of U.S. War in Latin America
Lucius Shepard’s hallucinogenic stories anticipated Trump’s war fantasies.
How Oil Came to Define Venezuela’s Economy
The economic shocks precede Chávez and Maduro.
The Use and Abuse of ‘Narco-Terrorism’
From Afghanistan to Venezuela, the misleading term has inspired decades of misguided policies against real problems.
Trump Should Oust Maduro
U.S. military might can help democratize Venezuela without sending troops.
Latin America’s Pivot to Asia
Chile, Mexico, and Peru announced new trade talks at APEC.
To Counter China, Look to the ‘Other Trilat’
The U.S.-Philippines-Japan partnership needs institutionalization.
Why Congress Is So Mad at the Pentagon
Lawmakers—including Republicans—are frustrated over a lack of communication.
Toppling Maduro Without Boots on the Ground
Trump would be right to try something new against the Venezuelan regime.
A Victorious Mamdani Will Be Forced Onto the International Stage
New York’s global profile gives it a powerful role in subnational diplomacy.
Initial Supreme Court Arguments on Tariffs Case Offer Some Hints
A number of justices are skeptical of reading too much into the president’s “unlimited” powers.
AI’s Rapacious Appetite for Electricity Can Accelerate Clean Energy
Why Big Tech’s energy problem might prove crucial to fighting climate change.
COP30’s Dangerous Omission
Brazil’s people-centered climate vision risks abandoning the most vulnerable.
What Does Trump Think Nuclear Testing Is?
A vague statement opens a range of expensive possibilities.
How Beijing Views Trump
A top China scholar and former Biden administration advisor on the Trump-Xi meeting and the future of the U.S.-China relationship.
In Hurricane Melissa’s Wake, Trump’s Foreign Aid Cuts Face Critical Moment
The storm’s devastation is a key test of the United States’ reduced humanitarian response abilities.
Ukraine’s New U.S. Ambassador Previews Her Pragmatic Approach to Washington
“I am Ukrainian, right? I’m not a Democrat or Republican.”
Dick Cheney, Architect of the War on Terrorism, Dies
The former U.S. vice president set out to strengthen the power of the presidency and the country but ultimately undermined both.
With Military Buildup Against Venezuela, the U.S. Eyes Cuba as Well
Washington hopes cutting off Venezuelan oil to Havana would collapse the Cuban regime.
What the U.S. Supreme Court Tariffs Case Is Really About
The case is less about tariffs and more about whether the U.S. Constitution still matters.
Why Russell Vought Is One of the Most Powerful People in Washington
Trump’s budget director is working through the system rather than around it.
The Quad Is Dead, Long Live the Quad
In an increasingly dangerous era, the group’s old patterns of cooperation will not suffice.
A New Nuclear Arms Race?
How Trump could reshape the nuclear order.
Why China Is Winning the Trade War
Rare earths and other assets have given Beijing an edge in trade talks with Washington.
Will Trump’s Critical Minerals Blitz Pay Off?
The U.S. president has been on a mission to secure new supply chains—and counter China’s grip.
The Politics of Hurricane Melissa
The storm hit three island nations with vastly different approaches to climate adaptation.
What Trump and Xi Did—and Didn’t—Agree to
From soybeans to semiconductors, here’s everything you need to know about what came out of the meeting.
Trump’s Vagueness Over Nuclear Testing Could Fuel an Arms Race
It’s unclear whether his statement refers to warhead detonations.
Trump and Xi Step Back From the Brink—for Now
The United States and China have struck a vague and reversible deal.
How to Get More U.S. Weapons to Ukraine
Opening Europe’s 150 billion euro defense fund to U.S. companies could seal the deal.
Will Belém Kill Paris?
COP30 in Brazil tests the 2015 climate accord at a pivotal moment.
How Russia Sanctions Could Affect India
U.S. and EU penalties on Russian oil companies raise the stakes for New Delhi’s trade talks with Washington.
The U.S. Government’s Repair Bills Are Coming Due
Decades of accumulated technical debt have hollowed out state capacity.
‘Putin Doesn’t Want Peace’
Estonia’s president on Russia, Ukraine, NATO, drones, and Trump.
Milei’s Midterm Miracle
Did Argentine voters endorse their president’s economic overhaul—or cow to Trump’s threats?
Can Trump and Xi Strike a Deal?
Both sides are sending positive signals ahead of a Thursday meeting, but a temporary truce may be more likely.
U.S. Government Shutdown Sorely Tests National Security State
One month into federal funding shortfall, U.S. defense and diplomacy resources are being stretched.
U.S. Gunboat Diplomacy Will Only Embolden China
Trump’s aggression in Latin America has given a powerful boost to Beijing in the Pacific.
Is the AI Economy a Bubble?
Economist Jared Bernstein warns that revenues simply aren’t catching up with sky-high valuations.
We’ve Forgotten What ‘Soft Power’ Is
Internationalists are mourning the loss of soft power. Do they even know what that means anymore?
Why There’s No Easy Button to End the Russia-Ukraine War
Economic carrots and sanctions aren’t powerful enough to compensate Russia for giving up its maximalist aims.
The Lessons of ‘A House of Dynamite’
Kathryn Bigelow’s latest movie offers insights for an increasingly dangerous world.
Democratic Peace Theory, R.I.P.
The rise, and potential fall, of a mainstay academic theory.
How Trump’s White House Renovation Differs From Truman’s
Both projects attracted public scrutiny and criticism, yet the contrast in approach is telling.
Why Rare Earths Are About to Cost a Lot More
Contrary to Trump’s claim, diversifying the supply chain won’t drive down prices.
Is the U.S. Ready for War With China?
U.S. military planners are caught in an impossible dilemma.
‘A House of Dynamite’ Isn’t Explosive Enough
Kathryn Bigelow’s nuclear thriller is terrifying—but falls short of true provocation.
It’s (Still) Henry Kissinger’s World
A new documentary argues Nixon’s secretary of state learned the wrong lessons from his experiences with Nazi Germany.
Trump’s Anti-Worker Foreign Policy
By cutting U.S. support for labor rights around the globe, Washington is hurting workers at home and abroad.
Is Bolivia Ready for Paz?
The conservative president-elect has an economic crisis in his inbox.