Relevance
GS-1 | Geography (Location-based)
- Neighbouring countries, coastlines, strategic geography
- Caribbean, North America, Arctic region mapping
GS-2 | International Relations / Global Politics
- U.S.–Latin America relations
- Drugs, migration, security geopolitics
- Arctic competition & strategic resources
Colombia — Why in News?
Trump threatened action over failure to curb drug trafficking; Colombia remains a major global cocaine producer. Bilateral strain under President Gustavo Petro.
Neighbouring Countries
- Panama (NW)
- Venezuela (E)
- Brazil (SE)
- Peru (S)
- Ecuador (SW)
Geographic Notes
- Lies in North-western South America
- Only South American country with coastlines on both Pacific Ocean & Caribbean Sea
- Andes Mountains run across the country
- Major river basins: Amazon & Orinoco
Data Angle
- Accounts for ~⅔ of global cocaine output
Mexico — Why in News?
Trump warned of action over fentanyl-trafficking networks impacting the U.S.; debates around
Neighbouring Countries
- United States (N)
- Guatemala (SE)
- Belize (SE)
Geographic Notes
- Located in North America
- Coastlines on Pacific Ocean & Gulf of Mexico / Caribbean Sea
- Dominated by Mexican Plateau, Sierra Madre ranges, and Yucatán Peninsula
- Part of the Ring of Fire → earthquake & volcano-prone
Policy Context
- Fentanyl crisis driving security-centric U.S.–Mexico relations
Cuba — Why in News?
Accused by Trump of supporting terrorism & drug-trafficking networks; renewed geopolitical friction amid economic crisis & migration flows.
Neighbouring Countries (Maritime Proximity)
- United States (Florida) — North
- Mexico — West
- Bahamas — NE
- Haiti (Hispaniola) — East
- Jamaica — South
Geographic Notes
- Largest island in the Caribbean
- Located between Gulf of Mexico & Atlantic Ocean
- Part of the Greater Antilles archipelago
Strategic Layer
- Symbolically key in U.S. hemispheric policy & Cold War legacy politics
- Greenland (Denmark) — Why in News?
Trump reiterated interest in annexing Greenland, citing strategic defence priorities.
Neighbouring / Nearby Regions
- Canada — West (across Baffin Bay)
- Iceland — SE (across Denmark Strait)
- Arctic Ocean — North
- North Atlantic Ocean — South & East
Geographic Notes
- World’s largest island; autonomous territory under Kingdom of Denmark
- Mostly covered by the Greenland Ice Sheet
- Hosts Pituffik (Thule) Space / Air Base
- Critical to Arctic sea-lanes, missile-defence, and rare-earth resources
Strategic Context
- Rising U.S.–China–Russia competition in the Arctic
