President & CEO Column
As we close 2025, the Western Hemisphere finds itself navigating a period of significant geopolitical transition driven by realpolitik. Democratic governance, economic competitiveness, migration pressures, climate impacts, and evolving strategic competition are intersecting across the Americas in complex and often unexpected ways.
Earlier this month, the United States released its National Security Strategy which reflects this evolving landscape and underscores renewed U.S. attention to the Western Hemisphere. The Strategy outlines an “enlist and expand” approach (see pages 15–16), emphasizing collaboration with long-standing partners to address shared challenges such as migration, transnational crime, and maritime security, while also seeking to broaden economic and security partnerships and build more resilient supply chains across the region. The Strategy further reiterates longstanding U.S. interest in the Western Hemisphere, signaling a clear intent to reinforce regional engagement and address the growing influence of extra-hemispheric actors, including China.
While many welcome the United States’ renewed focus on the Americas, important questions remain about how regional partnerships can be effectively sustained and strengthened amid a challenging environment? These include persistent economic uncertainty, income inequality, and poverty across Latin America and the Caribbean; evolving trade dynamics and tariff policies; heightened security operations in parts of the Caribbean; dramatic reductions in U.S. development assistance; and changes in U.S. engagement with multilateral institutions and global climate frameworks. These developments are unfolding at a time when communities throughout the region are facing increasing exposure to extreme weather events and climate-related vulnerabilities.
Against this backdrop, the Institute of the Americas’ mission remains as vital as ever: to serve as a nonpartisan bridge for dialogue, collaboration, and practical, solutions-oriented engagement across borders. Our newly released 2025 Annual Report highlights a year of strong programmatic growth and expanding impact, even amid geopolitical uncertainty. I encourage you to review the report, which reflects both the depth of our work and the breadth of our partnerships in energy, the environment, and economic competitiveness.
In recent months, IOA has been actively engaged throughout the region. Our team participated in multiple forums on green maritime transport and port decarbonization this fall, including dialogues at COP-30 in Belém, Brazil, and in La Paz, Baja California Sur, aboard the Norwegian tall ship Statsraad Lehmkuhl. We were also proud to co-sponsor the 2025 CaliBaja Business Summit hosted at IOA, advancing cross-border economic collaboration at a critical moment for North American competitiveness and ahead of the planned 2026 review of the USMCA. In December, IOA convened its Mexican Energy Ambassadors Program in collaboration with the American Chamber of Commerce, highlighting key findings from the Institute’s recent analysis of Mexico’s evolving electricity sector regulations. IOA also played an active role in science diplomacy programming at the 2025 Guadalajara International Book Fair (FIL).
None of this work would be possible without the steadfast support of our donors, sponsors, partners, board members, advisory council members, and dedicated volunteers. Your commitment enables IOA to play a constructive and trusted role during a period of profound change across the Western Hemisphere. If you have not already done so, I encourage you to consider a year end gift to the Institute of the Americas.
On behalf of our entire team, thank you for your continued engagement and leadership. We wish you and your families a joyful holiday season and a hopeful start to the new year.
Richard Kiy
President & CEO
Institute of the Americas