Americas Program

A leading source of ideas defining the future of national security, analyzing geopolitical trends, and addressing key political, economic, and social challenges facing the region

The Program was established with the clear, forward-looking mission to elevate the policy discussion on the Western Hemisphere. The program aims to influence through timely, practical, and insightful analysis and policy recommendations for partners in the United States and the region.

The Americas Program focuses on six thematic priorities:

  1. The authoritarian regimes in Venezuela, Nicaragua, and Cuba as well as democratic backsliding in other countries as a driver of regional instability.
  2. Economic development, strengthening supply chains, forging closer trade linkages between the United States and the region, and nearshoring critical industries.
  3. The long-term impact of China’s rise, the continued relevance of Russia and other extra-hemispheric powers, in a region shaped by strategic rivalry.
  4. Security, especially transnational criminal organizations and illicit economies, particularly in Mexico, the Northern Triangle, and Colombia.
  5. Governance challenges and their effects, including weak rule of law, endemic corruption, migration, inequality, and human rights violations.
  6. Civil-military relations and defense cooperation.

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Projects

Featured Analysis

Photo: HUGE PERALTA/AFP/Getty Images

Photo: HUGE PERALTA/AFP/Getty Images

The Next Caribbean Crisis? Assessing U.S. Military Options Toward Cuba

The United States has stepped up economic, political, and military pressure on Cuba. This commentary examines five possible scenarios involving the use of force against Cuba.

Commentary by Christopher Hernandez-Roy, Mark F. Cancian, and Henry Ziemer — June 3, 2026

See all analysis on Americas Program

Featured Event

Three Nations, One Table: North American Agriculture under USMCA

Presented by Americas Program
June 24, 2026 • 9:30 am – 3:00 pm EDT

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The United States Has Opted Not to Extend the USMCA

The United States declined to renew the USMCA for another 16 years, triggering a decade of annual reviews. But the deal did not collapse. It now faces a slower, costlier threat: prolonged uncertainty that stalls investment across North America.

Commentary by CSIS Scholars — July 2, 2026

Audio Briefs

Don’t Let the USMCA Drift Away

An audio version of "⁠Don’t Let the USMCA Drift Away⁠," a new commentary by CSIS’s Diego Marroquín Bitar. This audio was generated with text-to-speech by Eleven Labs.

Podcast Episode by Diego Marroquín Bitar — June 30, 2026

Audio Briefs

Don’t Let the USMCA Drift Away

On July 1, North America’s trade pact comes up for review. The real risk isn’t collapse, but rather the slow, expensive erosion already underway.

Commentary by Diego Marroquín Bitar — June 30, 2026

Bolivia’s Governance Crisis Under Rodrigo Paz

CSIS Americas Program Senior Associate Evan Ellis unpacks the governance crisis in Bolivia and its implications for President Rodrigo Paz, regional democratic stability, and the U.S. “Shield of the Americas” alliance.

Report by Evan Ellis — June 30, 2026

35 West

Best of 35 West: Canada's Role in the Golden Dome

In this episode that aired on June 12, 2025, Phillippe Lagassé joins to discuss Canada's historical position on continental missile defense, changes to the threat landscape faced by Canada, and how Prime Minister Mark Carney is approaching defense modernization priorities.

Podcast Episode by Christopher Hernandez-Roy — June 29, 2026

CSIS 35 West

Venezuela Suffered Its Worst Earthquake in Decades: What Comes Next?

Two powerful earthquakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 on the Richter scale, recently struck along the coast of Venezuela. The international response will be a major test of U.S. leadership and Washington's new relationship with Caracas.

Critical Questions by Henry Ziemer and Joseph Ruelas — June 26, 2026

Audio Briefs

Venezuela Suffered Its Worst Earthquake in Decades: What Comes Next?

An audio version of  "⁠Venezuela Suffered Its Worst Earthquake in Decades: What Comes Next?⁠," a new commentary by CSIS’s by Henry Ziemer and Joseph Ruelas. This audio was generated with text-to-speech by Eleven Labs. 

Podcast Episode by Henry Ziemer — June 26, 2026

Audio Briefs

Three Nations, One Table: North American Agriculture under USMCA

Join the Americas Program for a conference on USMCA and the future of North American food and agriculture. Experts will discuss food affordability, the successes and challenges of agricultural integration, and the risks that broader trade tensions pose to the agreement’s agricultural framework ahead of the 2026 review.

Event — June 24, 2026