Union of South American Nations

The **Union of South American Nations**, also called **USAN** or just **South America**, is a nation comprised of 14 union states and three autonomous subdivisions on **Earth**. The USAN has one extraplanetary holding: the **Mercédès Federative Republic** on **Luna**, and has an extensive colonial presence on **Mars** at Tyrhenna Terra and the Isidis Coast. With a population of 467 million, the USAN is the third-least populated state on Earth, 5 million ahead of the **Eurasian Association** and 78 million behind the **Union of Mashriq Republics**. The capital city of the USAN is Bolivaria, located near the center of the country and acting as its own state, while the largest city is Rio de Janeiro. located within the Brazilian Autonomous Region.

## History

### Andes Cooperative Union

Like many of the other superstates on Earth, the history of the Union of South American Nations starts in the mid-20th century, and with the birth of a supranational organization. In this case, it was the **Andes Cooperative Union**, formed between the Andean states of Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Chile, and Bolivia (modern Charcas), in 1969. Founded primarily to foster economic ties and growth between member states, the organization quickly grew as a promoter and protector of the sovereignty of its own member states and that of all South American nations. As such, it would grow into something of an anti-US force on the continent. The two forces would clash a few times during the First Cold War, most notably during the 1973 Chilean and 1982 Peruvian coup attempts, both of which were funded by the **United States**, only to be averted by combined Andean forces. This isn't to say that the Cooperative was aligned with the USSR, however. While the two maintained nominal diplomatic relations and had limited economic ties, the ACU was in no way pro-USSR and maintained its anti-communist leaning, aligning itself instead with the Non-Aligned Movement, at times appearing poised to lead the bloc.

### La Paz Accords and the USAN

With the end of the First Cold War in the 1990s, the Cooperative would shift its focus to internal integration and development. The first wave of changes would come in 1996, with the La Paz Accords officially dissolving the Andes Cooperative Union and establishing the modern Union of South American Nations in its place. The Union would be given new institutions, such as an office of Prime Minister and a directly-elected Parliament. The new Union also shifted its focus towards continental integration. Venezuela would be the first new addition to the organization, officially joining in 1993, followed by Argentina and Paraguay in 2005. Internally, the Union would promote development between its member states through institutions such as the **South American Central Bank**, and the adoption of a common currency, the Peso (₱), in 2007 would help foster greater economic ties between its members. Civil and defense institutions, such as the **South American Space Research Institute** (**SASRI**) and **Combined South American Military** (**CSAM**) would ensure that the continent kept pace with the world both militarily and in its outer space ventures. The Union would practically achieve its goal of continental integration in 2015, with the admission of Guyana, Suriname, and Uruguay. After decades of relative ambivalence towards the USAN’s overtures, negotiations with Brasilia would culminate in **Brazil** partially integrating into the USAN as an associate member in 2020.

### Federalism

The **Great Interlude** would prove to be a period of great change and growth within the USNA, and the **Second Cold War** would only accelerate this change. Throughout the 2020s member states were drawn closer and closer together, their economies and diplomatic arrays intertwining more and more. This would culminate in the 2029 Montevideo Treaty, which established common legal, trade, and foreign policy between all member states and gave the central **Union Parliament** vast new powers, effectively combining the Union of South American Nations into a single superstate.

### The Second Cold War & Navarrism

The presence of a new superstate in South America now served as a counterbalance to the rapidly-expanding United States in the north. For a time, the two would engage in a sort of “Great Game” in Central America and the Caribbean, where both nations would try to negate the other's influence over the smaller states in the region. The Union would be successful in gaining considerable influence over Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, and Trinidad & Tobago, effectively establishing protectorates that would later be absorbed into the Union itself. The Union would regularly enter into diplomatic and economic sparring matches with the United States and **European Union**; most notably the Panama Crisis in 2037, along with the subsequent economic recession and Falkland Islands conflict.

Internally, the nation's early politics were dominated by one **Dante Navarro**, previously President of Chile and the Union's first Prime Minister in 2029. Navarro would champion a populist ideology based heavily on “South American nationalism” and economic self-sufficiency. Navarro’s leadership would span the Union’s first eleven years, and would therefore have a formative impact on the USAN’s political landscape. Although unable to run in the 2040 election, his place would be taken by his sister, **Raquel Navarro**. Raquel (stylized “RN” by the general public) would mostly continue her brother's policies of both economic growth internally and fierce nationalism on the world stage. RN’s leadership would guide the Union through the whole of the 2040s, most notably through the Falklands Crisis and the beginning of the Caelonesian Space Race. She would finally step down from power in the 2050 election primarily due to term limits, but also a mix of health issues and growing unpopularity due to her handling of the **Golden Eye** pandemic of 2049-2051.

### Present Day

The end of the Second Cold War in 2055 and the collapse of most of the Union's geopolitical allies forced the nation to reconsider its aggressive stance on the world stage. This would initiate a slow process of detente between the United States and USAN, with summits such as the 2056 San Juan Conference proving pivotal in cooling inter-American relations. The USAN would also attempt to warm its relations with the European Federal Union. However, disputes over the border in Guyana and the sovereignty of Venezuela’s claim to “Guayana Esequiba”, as well as the USAN's continued claim to the Falklands, have kept relations with Europe icy well into the present day. Closer to home, the Union would intensify its diplomatic relationship with Brazil, when in 2068 the nation would join as an autonomous "sub-federation" of the Union, finally politically unifying the entire continent.

Economically, continental integration would allow the Union of South American Nations to continue growing its economy, allowing for the flow of goods, services, labor, capital, and raw materials across the whole landmass, and great infrastructure projects would connect the USAN with roads and railways. The Union would simultaneously mend fences with former rivals as the 21st century drew to a close and the 22nd century began, as the USAN prepared to transition away from the autarkic tendencies of the Navarro era and towards more open-minded trade policies, albeit with an insistence on always having the upper hand in negotiations. While relations with both the United States and European Union remain frosty to lukewarm at best, the USAN remains committed to being a respected member of the global community.