Americas | Council on Foreign Relations

Haiti

Haiti’s Troubled Path to Development

Hobbled by foreign interventions, political instability, and natural disasters, the former French colony has long suffered from underdevelopment.

Backgrounder by Rocio Cara Labrador and Diana Roy September 9, 2022
Terrorism and Counterterrorism

Guantanamo Bay: Twenty Years of Counterterrorism and Controversy

The U.S. military detention center at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, has generated intense debate for two decades, raising enduring questions about national security, human rights, and justice.

Article by Jonathan Masters September 9, 2022
Health

U.S. Life Expectancy Is in Decline. Why Aren’t Other Countries Suffering the Same Problem?

COVID-19 is contributing to a dramatic decline in the average lifespan of Americans. The drop-off is canceling out decades of public health gains and stretching the gap between the United States and its peers.

In Brief by Claire Klobucista September 8, 2022

Mexico

Secretary Blinken Visits Mexico, Sweden’s Election, Big Power Summitry in Uzbekistan, and More

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken visits Mexico with an economics-focused agenda; Swedes head to the polls for a general election that’s expected to be a close race between the ruling left-wing bloc and right-wing opposition; and Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi join leaders from across Asia in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, to discuss regional stability, food security, and trade at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit.

Podcast with James M. Lindsay and Robert McMahon September 8, 2022 The World Next Week
Haiti

A Smarter U.S. Assistance Strategy for Haiti

Implementing the Global Fragility Act in Haiti necessitates a change in U.S. assumptions and actions, writes Susan D. Page. The United States should work alongside Haitians desirous of charting their own transition to democracy and support Haitian-chosen policies and leadership.

Report by Susan D. Page September 8, 2022 Center for Preventive Action
Mexico

Mexico’s Long War: Drugs, Crime, and the Cartels

Violence continues to rage more than a decade after the Mexican government launched a war against drug cartels.

Backgrounder by CFR.org Editors September 7, 2022

United States

Three Questions About Student Debt Forgiveness

What is the rationale behind President Biden's recent student debt relief announcement, who benefits and pays for it, and finally, what might be some unintended consequences from it?

Blog Post by Roger W. Ferguson Jr. September 6, 2022 Renewing America
Global

The President's Inbox Episodes by Topic

A comprehensive list of each episode of The President's Inbox organized by topic.

Blog Post by James M. Lindsay September 1, 2022 The Water's Edge
Ukraine

IAEA Visits Ukrainian Nuclear Plant, UK Selects New Prime Minister, Chileans Vote on Constitution, and More

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) visits the recently shelled Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Russia-occupied Ukraine; the United Kingdom’s Conservative Party chooses the country’s next prime minister; and Chileans vote on a more progressive constitution.

Podcast with James M. Lindsay and Robert McMahon September 1, 2022 The World Next Week
Middle East and North Africa

How Inter-Shia Strife Is Threatening Iraqi Security

Violence between rival Shiite factions has raised concerns that Iraq’s weak government is facing prolonged political upheaval.

In Brief by Max Boot August 31, 2022
Climate Change

The Crisis of the Century: How the United States Can Protect Climate Migrants

The disastrous effects of climate change could displace more than a billion people in the next thirty years. International and domestic legal systems cannot continue to let climate migrants slip through the cracks.

Blog Post by Anya Howko-Johnson August 26, 2022 The Internationalist
China

Taiwan: Tracing the Roots of the U.S.-China Standoff

The United States and China have both accused each other of changing the status quo on Taiwan, leading to a standoff. They are both correct because each country has a different perspective on what the status quo is.

Article by Manjari Chatterjee Miller August 25, 2022 Asia Program
Brazil

Deforestation of Brazil’s Amazon Has Reached a Record High. What’s Being Done?

Scientists say the rain forest is approaching a critical tipping point at which the damage is irreversible.

In Brief by Diana Roy August 24, 2022
United States

How Does U.S. Voter Turnout Compare to the Rest of the World’s?

The debate over how to address persistently low voter turnout is heating up ahead of the midterm elections.

In Brief by Lyon Nishizawa August 24, 2022 Renewing America
Health

What Does the CDC Do?

The federal agency has a broad mandate to protect Americans’ health and an expansive global reach. But the COVID-19 pandemic has been one of its most daunting challenges.

Backgrounder by Claire Klobucista August 24, 2022