Search Results for: risk spotlight

AMERICAS Gangs and Violence Increase Across the Americas Organized and powerful gangs have been a rising issue across the Americas, with large-scale gang-related violence in 2024 particularly pronounced in both Ecuador and Haiti. This is in addition to the continued increase of organized criminal groups in Mexico, Nicaragua, and Colombia, though the problem is acute… Read more »

AMERICAS From Economic Prosperity to Economic Uncertainty 2023 was a year of strong economic growth for the Western Hemisphere. Economic activity in the region was at its highest levels since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the region was able to grow at a rapid 4% rate, making it one of the fastest-growing regions… Read more »

AMERICAS A Focus on Territorial Disputes Across the Region On December 3, a national referendum was held in Venezuela to determine whether the nation should annex Essequibo, an oil-rich region of neighboring Guyana. Although the referendum was non-binding, and the United Nations (UN) has already publicly denounced it as illegitimate, the territorial dispute between Guyana… Read more »

AMERICAS Severe Drought Severs Global Trade as Panama Canal Reduces Capacity This past October marks the driest on record for the Panama Canal, an interoceanic waterway that is reliant on fresh water to operate. The severe lack of water for the Panama Canal has caused a major traffic jam to occur on both the Atlantic… Read more »

AMERICAS Political Unrest and Transitions in Latin America  In the dynamic landscape of Central and South American politics, nations often find themselves at crossroads, grappling with the dual challenges of political transition and societal unrest. While these challenges manifest differently across countries, the themes of governance, justice, and societal response remain consistently intertwined. For instance,… Read more »

AMERICAS Atlantic Hurricane Season This month marks the midpoint of hurricane season in the Atlantic, which has the potential to be one of the most active hurricane seasons in recent decades. The hurricane season has not only been active but also powerful. For the first time since the 1950s, there have been two Category 3… Read more »

AMERICAS Indigenous Leaders from the Amazon Basin Gather in Brazil Brazil is perhaps best known for its Amazon Rainforest, yet only about 50% of the Amazon is in Brazil. The Amazon is known for its tropical flora, fauna, and biodiversity, yet forgotten is the immense diversity of its native population and the varied threats they… Read more »

AMERICAS Strong El Niño Event Expected for 2023  Often misunderstood and globally impactful, El Niño, the naturally occurring phenomenon that warms the waters off the Pacific Coast of South America, is due to begin this year and will likely have major effects across the globe. Under normal circumstances, the Pacific experiences a consistent movement of… Read more »

AMERICAS Second Attempt at South American Integration In a continent historically divided among itself, where political ideologies can manifest in extreme shifts to the right or left side of the political spectrum and where regional rivalries are plentiful, there is an ongoing, revitalized attempt to create a South American regional block. If successful, a South… Read more »

AMERICAS Haiti’s Crisis: A Humanitarian Disaster in the Western Hemisphere In a country where elected officials are not elected, the police are ineffective and outgunned, and the ports and major highways are controlled by gangs with more influence and power than the central government, it is hard to imagine what a more cliche Hollywood dramatized… Read more »