
Americas
List of Americas articles
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 its 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.
The Trump Trade Tracker
The latest global picture on Trump’s tariff regime—including who has managed to cut a deal.
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.
Xi May Have Miscalculated on Rare Earths
China’s complex new rules take on the entire world at once—and give Trump an opportunity.
The Difficult Art of Bibi-Sitting
The Trump administration is working to uphold the fragile Gaza cease-fire.
3 Key Questions About Trump’s War Against Drug Boats
Experts believe the operation is about regime change in Venezuela.
Nobody Is Sure How Bolivia’s New President Will Govern
Latin America’s right has welcomed centrist Sen. Rodrigo Paz’s victory.
Suriname’s Coming Oil Boom
Can the carbon-negative country enrich itself without harming the planet?
U.S. Sanctions Major Russian Energy Companies
The move follows a U.S. decision to cancel plans for a peace summit in Budapest.
Why Trump Is a ‘Scarcity President’
Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Greg Grandin on the end of the American myth of limitlessness.
Trump Faces MAGA Backlash for Argentina Bailout
Billions for Buenos Aires, and support for Argentine farmers, is not sitting well in the U.S. heartland.
Foreign Aid Groups Grapple With How to Engage Trump
After drastic cuts, some aid workers are advocating a more pragmatic approach to dealing with Trump 2.0.
The Countries Courting Trump With Critical Minerals
Australia becomes the latest country to sign a deal with the U.S. president.
Trump Goes After Colombia—and Risks Weakening the Fight Against Drugs
Cutting U.S. assistance to Bogotá will make it harder to stop record flows of cocaine.
Trump Should Be Wary of Partnering With Pakistan
Despite a recent boost in ties, history shows that Islamabad is a fickle friend in South Asia.
U.S. Intelligence Is Being Blinded by Trumpian Politics
Tulsi Gabbard has killed a key report for covering climate change.
Canada Shows How to Neutralize Trump’s Trade Attacks
Ottawa’s latest reforms are a blueprint for Washington’s victims around the world.
The Air Traffic Controller Showdown That Haunts American Labor
A defining moment for Reagan was also a turning point in the decline of unions.
What Is Trump’s Latin America Policy?
Making sense of the latest U.S. moves in Venezuela and beyond.
Peru’s Political Churn Isn’t Over Yet
Even after the president’s impeachment, protests show little sign of slowing down.
Trump’s Panama Port Predicament
The deal to sever China’s ties to the Panama Canal could boost its influence elsewhere in the region.
Welcome to the Era of Mutually Assured Disruption
Washington and Beijing both believe they can manage the chaos. Neither can.
Gen Z Is Taking to the Barricades
Here’s why you should be paying attention.
Albanese Is Finally Getting His Trump Meeting
AUKUS and critical minerals will dominate the agenda for the Australian prime minister’s White House visit.
What’s the U.S. Endgame in Venezuela?
Three possible scenarios for Trump and Caracas.
What the Protracted Shutdown Means for the U.S. Economy
Trump is using the crisis to target his political enemies.
How the U.S. Failure in Iraq Haunts Trump’s Gaza Plan
The American-led trusteeship will command no legitimacy among Palestinians.