US Foreign Policy

Peruvians will head to the polls on June 7 for a high-stakes presidential runoff between far-right candidate Keiko Fujimori and left-wing candidate Roberto Sánchez. With polls showing a tight race, concerns over electoral integrity, and memories of years of political instability still fresh, the vote could have significant implications for Peru’s political future.

Colombians vote this Sunday in the first round of their 2026 presidential election, choosing a successor to leftist President Gustavo Petro. Frontrunner Senator Iván Cepeda faces right-wing rivals Abelardo de la Espriella and Paloma Valencia in what is widely seen as a referendum on Colombia’s first-ever left-wing presidency. Read on for a full breakdown of the candidates, key issues, and election concerns — with live updates from CEPR observers on the ground.

A new poll by YouGov finds that 64 percent of Americans oppose the US going to war against Cuba, while 15 percent support it and 21 percent are not sure.

A new CEPR report finds that the expansion of US sanctions against Cuba beginning in 2017 were likely the primary cause of a major increase in infant mortality in Cuba.

Trump’s apparent disregard for the predictable consequences of striking Iran could drive energy shocks, food crises, and widespread suffering that put millions at risk worldwide.

Observers from the Center for Economic and Policy Research (CEPR) are urging calm in Lima following a disrupted election marked by delays, incomplete vote counts, and a highly fragmented field of candidates. With only partial results available and logistical issues affecting polling stations, experts warn against premature fraud claims as candidates like Keiko Fujimori appear headed for a runoff amid a tight and uncertain race.

US sanctions and the ongoing blockade of Cuba are causing deadly shortages and harming civilians, potentially qualifying as war crimes under the Fourth Geneva Convention. New legislation and legal debates are now challenging the constitutionality and human cost of these measures.

The war with Iran is not only a humanitarian crisis but a costly economic shock, raising prices, straining global supplies, and locking the US into higher military spending for years.

The Trump administration reportedly wants $200 billion for its war on Iran. Over the past year, they have cut spending — mostly on health care and food assistance — equal to that amount.

The war with Iran is portrayed as an economic shock to US allies—raising energy costs, straining economies, and offering little clear benefit—undermining claims that other countries should be thankful for the conflict.