New Union



Did you know that the Soviet Union was only days away from being reformed? You heard me right. On August 20, 1991, several of the republics of the Soviet Union were to sign the "New Union Treaty." This treaty would have transformed the highly centralized into a looser federation of sovereign states. However, this dream was shattered just one day prior to it even happening. On August 19, hardline communist sympathizer would launch a against Mikhail Gorbachev and his reforms. Despite the fact that coup was fought back by the people (becoming a humiliating failure), it would ruin any attempt to preserve the Soviet Union. Just months later, the world's largest nation, and one of the world's most powerful nations, becomes 15 independent nations, each going through a decade or more of hardship and fighting.

But as history shows, coups are very fickle, and are prone to failure (even before they start). As it has been revealed during our timeline, the August Coup was not planned out very well, and the conspirators made it easy for the coup to be crushed. So, what if the coup was ruined before it even happened? What if the coup never happened, and the world witnessed the formation of a New Union?

Point of Divergence
In the afternoon of August 18, 1991,, , , and Deputy USSR Defense Minister General flew to the Crimea for a meeting with Gorbachev. Their plan is to force Gorbachev to either declare a state of emergency, or hand over power to Vice President. The men board a Tupolev Tu-154 and depart from (now Yekaterinburg) to the Crimea. During the flight, all four men felt nervous about their mission, and began to drink in order to calm themselves down. By the end of the flight, Boldin and Shenin were passed out, and Baklanov was too drunk to stand up. Varennikov was sober enough to continue the mission, but fearing doing it alone, he gave up on the plan. All the four men could do was squabble home.

In Moscow, Gennady Yanayev and other await the word from the Crimea. By the early hours of August 19, it seemed clear that the plan has backfired. With no word from Varennikov, fear began to spread among the conspirators that he and the others were making a deal with Gorbachev, causing the plot to fall apart even more. Gorbachev arrives back in Moscow later that day, but has no idea of the coup that could have been. All that Gorbachev would remember about August 18 was the pressure of writing the speech for the big day tomorrow.



On August 20, 1991, the signing of the happens on scheduled and with no mishaps. The is transformed into the new and democratic. With some relief that their plan was not exposed, the conspirators would gradually move their own ways. On August 21, Yanayev would resign as Vice President. head would resign his post later that week and emigrate to Cuba later that year. Prime Minister would not give up his post, but would later be voted out of office by a less hardline politician. It would not be until well into the that conspirator  (who would not "commit suicide") would come forward with the plot. By this time, the atmosphere in the Soviet Union (and the world) was much calmer and better. The Soviet people would be shocked as to how close they came to loosing all that they have achieved.

The August Coup was planned in order to "save the Soviet Union." But in reality, the coup failing was probably the best thing for both the USSR and the world. Granted, the world is no utopia, and world peace is not in the foreseeable future, but in comparison to what the world has been through, the people of the USSR (not to mention the planet) have a hard time remembering the dark past.

Culture

 * Cyrillic alphabet: With the USSR never collapsing, the use of the will continue to be used in, , and the s.

Nations



 * : Gorbachev would continue to support and fund the -government of Afghanistan. Just like their northern neighbors, Afghanistan would move towards a social democratic form of government, with more freedoms. Because Najibullah would remain in power, his work to bring peace between the Afghan government and the Mujaheddin would be more successful. Despite peace between many of the Mujaheddin leaders (including ), the civil war would continue. The southern regions of Afghanistan would show greater support and alliance towards neighboring Pakistan and Iran, with both countries eventually supporting the forces of 's . Despite the international support, the Soviet-backed Afghanistan, and the now the pro-Kabul forces of Massoud would lead to a decisive victory over the radical south. Today, Afghanistan is in a state of peace and economic growth, with the nation going through an age of peace it has not seen in decades, and with a bright future ahead.
 * : With the Mujaheddin not splitting off and fighting one another, the civil war would not be as chaotic as out timeline. Because of which, Mullah would continue in his Islamic studies and retain a quiet life in southern Afghanistan. The Taliban would not be established.
 * : Despite the Taliban not forming, the loss loss of in the civil war, as well as the continued fundamentalism in the southern provinces of Afghanistan; would lead the radical factions of Afghanistan in a completely different direction. In a manner similar to the American Civil War, the southernmost and Pashtun dominated provinces of Afghanistan declare their secession from Kabul. Backed by their neighbors Iran and Pakistan, the Islamic Republic of Pashtunistan is established. Despite this move, the division acts more like OTL, with little to no fighting at the present day, yet international confusion.


 * China(s): The and the  (Taiwan) are still divided by two different governments. After Gorbachev's reforms, the PRC would continue to move away from the USSR politically, leading to some tensions within China. Hong Kong and Macau would be reunited with China (as in OTL). While the mainland is still tensions, the political atmosphere in Taiwan is very different from OTL, as more and more Taiwanese are supportive of reunification or keeping the status quo (unlike OTL).




 * : With the USSR continuing to exist, Cuba would continue to work closely with their major ally. Despite the not happening, the Cuban government would have some problems. As feared, the continued cooperation with the new USSR would lead to the Cuban people wanting similar change. Finally breaking out into full protest on August 5, 1994, Cuba would not have the "luxury" to act against its people as in OTL (since fear that the USSR would stop funding, or even support the protesters, gripped Castro). Based on the possibilities of another revolution and even a potential American invasion,  would shock the world by announcing his resignation as President, and allowing the first free elections to take place by the following year. Within a year, Cuba would begin their own glasnost and perestroika, elect a new President and a new National Assembly. The country continues to be a prominently socialist nation, and has close relations with Nicaragua and Venezuela (not to mention the continued support by the Soviet Union). Due in part to these reforms, the United States would end their embargo on the island nation, and restart relations with their long lost neighbor.


 * : Due in part to the success of the new Soviet government, as well as the fear that they may retake the nation; the Czechs and Slovaks see beyond their differences, and look towards a continued future together. The "Czech and Slovak Federal Republic" (otherwise known as Czechoslovakia) continues to exist as a united nation, ironically united under a Soviet-styled federation.


 * : Despite being too late to prevent the collapse of the communist government and the eventual withdraw of Eritrea, the Soviets would not turn their backs on their major African ally. Gorbachev would be supportive of a Soviet-styled government between the ethnic groups of Ethiopia, leading to the formation of modern day Ethiopia. Despite the long road, Ethiopia has risen from the ruins of the 1980s, and has become a powerful nation in northern Africa.


 * : With Gorbachev remaining President, his openness to bring better relations with neighboring Japan would be accomplished. In 1993, the major wall between the two nations (the ) is finally solved, as Gorbachev offers three of the four disputed islands to be returned to Japan (which Tokyo takes in a heartbreak). With this out of the way, the two nations begin a new era of cooperation that hasn't been in place since the 18th century. The new cooperation would soon bring aid and Japanese funding to the crippling Soviet economy, and vise versa.




 * Korea(s): Despite global change and growing cooperation between the east and west, the Korean peninsula remains divided by the in the south, and the  in the north. Despite this, the situation on the peninsula can be considered very different from our timeline. The Soviet Union would now take an active role in the peninsula, and working for peace between the two nations. With the election of, the  would become a major breakthrough between Korean relations (with the policy remaining in affect to this day). With pressure from the Soviet Union in the north, Pyongyang would eventually agree to cut back its nuclear arms program. Enticed by this, President Bill Clinton would take a more positive foreign relation towards the North.  While unification is probably a greater possibility in this timeline, the peninsula is still to active to know for sure.


 *  (formerly Iraq): With Gorbachev's policies towards Saddam Hussein being considered "too soft" by the American military, the United States would take a more decisive role in post-war Iraq. When rumors reach Washington about an Iraqi plot to assassinate Saddam Hussein, the USA will take greater interest in the idea. The 1995 plot would eventually be successful, and a new government would form in Iraq. Despite the end of one war, a new war would form. Shortly after the death of Hussein, the battered Kurd people of northern Iraq declare their independence. This is soon followed by the Shia populated governorates in the south to similarly seek sovereignty (but never declared independence). This new war would only last a few years, and would end with the agreement to form a Soviet-styled federation of the three peoples. Backed greatly by the UN, the former Iraq is reestablished as the Union of Mesopotamia. Much like the USSR, Mesopotamia would go threw a decade of political and economic reform. Today, the Mesopotamian government and situation is greatly favored by the people. There is no Second Gulf War, and Mesopotamia is one of the few Arab nations to not break out into protests during.
 * : With Hussein gone, the growing disputes between the Kurdistan Democratic Party and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan would not break out into a civil war. Instead, both parties would cooperate in the temporary and unrecognized period of Kurdish independence, and would continue to be major parties in the Mesopotamian republic of Kurdistan.


 * : As in our timeline, the UN-backed forces in Somalia would fail to bring peace, allowing a safe haven for terrorism and piracy. This safe haven would eventually lead to a joint Ethiopian-Soviet invasion of Somalia in 2004. Somalia now resembles Iraq from OTL, with foreign forces still patrolling the streets, and a currently uncertain future.
 * : The people of Somaliland would be a grateful ally of the Soviets during the . Because of which, the USSR begins to help supply the region. The Soviets would go a step further, and recognizes the independence of Somaliland. The UK and the US would follow suit, leading to the global recognition of the republic today.


 * : With Afghanistan not being a safe haven for their cause, Al-Qaeda and would remain in Sudan. With nowhere to go, bin Laden would further agree to fund and support the government of, which leads to the continued protection of Al-Qaeda by Sudan. After the attacks of 9/11, the United States launches an invasion of Sudan, which becomes this timeline's Afghanistan.
 *  and : During the invasion and war, the Americans would gain huge support from the people of southern and western Sudan. This would eventually lead to the independence of and  shortly after the conflict, which gains strong support from the international community.




 * : The United States does not greatly differ from our timeline. With the Cold War over, the United States would also work for good relations with the reformed Soviet Union. While a rivalry continues to exist between the two, it is no longer a global threat.
 * Mariana and Puerto Rico: Due primarily to the political reforms in Cuba and the increased Soviet presence in the Caribbean because of which, Puerto Ricans would feel less comfortable in the status quo. In the, Puerto Ricans vote in favor of statehood into the United States. Enticed by this, the other territories of the US begin demanding similar votes. By the turn of the new millennium, the US would gain two new states. The former Commonwealth of Puerto Rico is combined with the to create the State of Puerto Rico, while  and the  are merged into the State of Mariana. American Samoa is upgraded to a Commonwealth.


 * Yemen(s): Despite the early optimism of the Yemeni unification of 1990, it would not last. By 1994, the united Yemen acted more like a "Greater North Yemen," leading many in the south to now question this. The boiling point finally breaks, and civil war breaks out. Seeing their opportunity, declare their independence once again. Unlike our timeline, the Soviet Union would not forget their former ally. Gorbachev declares support for the South Yemeni people to express themselves (but he never mentioned the recognition of their independence). With the seeming support from Moscow, neighboring Saudi Arabia begin their support for the south (primarily due to their hatred for the government of ), the Aden government would be able to gain enough ground to retain their independence. Today, Yemen is once again divided, and the idea of a Greater Yemen have gradually faded into a broken dream of pan-Arabism.




 * : The reforms of the Soviet Union were far too late to safe their Slavic brethren on the Adriatic Sea, but not too late. While the USSR would not go to war themselves, they would support peaceful solutions to the conflict, as well as ways to reunite the former nation. This is not completely taken by the Croats and Serbs, who see this as the USSR willing to go to war in the region, which leads to a completely different Balkan region. In 1994, the would be annexed into Serbia, with  soon being annexed by Croatia. Bosnia would become two separate enclaves from the vast region it once held onto for centuries. Despite the war seeming more active, there would (ironically) be less bloodshed during the war, but crimes against humanity would be charged to both Yugoslavia and Croatia. The war would end in the late 90s, with only a rump Yugoslavia to take the place of the former vast nation.
 * Dardania (Kosovo): Despite Yugoslavia remaining a nation, the sovereignty ideals of the Soviet Union would help to shame the war-torn nation. Supported by many ( is most noted), Yugoslavia would eventually form themselves into a Soviet-styled federation of sovereign republics. Over time, this gained support from the Albanian majority in Kosovo, eventually leading to an Albanian republic of Yugoslavia named (which includes parts of Macedonia).
 * Macedonia: While the "former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia" gained their independence by peaceful means (in comparison to the others), this did not stop growing ideals of potential reunification. In combination of growing nostalgia and reforms of Yugoslavia, international pressure from neighboring Greece, and the growing pressure from the Albanian population of Macedonia; the Macedonian people would eventually support the reunification, leading to a bigger and friendlier Yugoslavia.

Politics



 * Cold War: The term "Cold War" has greatly changed since the fall of communism. Culturally, the Cold War has been over since the 1990s, with the United States and the Soviet Union growing closer and becoming more friendly with each other. Politically and militarily, the Cold War continues to play an important role between American and Soviet policies.
 * Superpowers: The Soviet Union retained its superpower status after the reformation, and the USSR continues to have a major influence globally. Thought the world is no longer divided between American and Soviet influences, there are still nations with cooperate with one over the other.
 * KGB: The "Committee on State Security" would continue to exist, and would act more like the current . The KGB continues to be one of the top intelligence agencies of the world.
 * Red Army: The term "Red Army" has changed, now referring to a communist army. However, the Soviet military is still considered the "Red Army" by both the Soviet Union and the United States.
 * NATO: With the USSR continuing to exist, the expansion of NATO eastward would not happen. Instead, the nations of the former Eastern Bloc would form what would become known as "," which work with both NATO and the Soviet-backed CSTO.
 * European Union: While NATO is seen as a divide between the East and West, the European Union would gradually be seen more as a supporter of European sovereignty and independence, neutral from both the USA and USSR. The EU is currently moving away from both superpowers, growing more and more into its very own superpower.


 * Communism: Communism has continued to change in this timeline. More nations would move away from hardline ideologies, and many more dropping communism for socialism. Today, only remains a communist dictatorship, while  continues to run under a single-party state. Wanting to remain in the Soviet sphere (rather than in China's),  and  would gradually move towards a Soviet-styled economy and political system; while  would break out into revolt against hardline communism.

Space



 * Soviet space program: In 1993, the space program of the USSR was organized into a NASA-like entity known as the . The Baikonur Cosmodrome continues to act as the primary spaceport for the USSR. The city of has become something like the " of the Soviet Union," with the city growing in size in only a few years.


 * Buran Program: Instead of canceling the program, the citizens and scientists of the Soviet Union would show more interests in the Buran program (primarily as a means to get civilians active and to bring a new light to the old age of . By 1995, both the United States and the Soviet Union have working shuttle programs.


 * International Space Station: Despite the fact that there are now two shuttle programs, the ISS would not be built. With a better Soviet economy and optimism, the idea of combining ' and ' into the ISS would not be thought of as likely. Instead, both stations would become their own, run by their respective governments. Despite there not being cooperation on a single space station by the USA and USSR, there is still a cooperation between the two nations. "Soviet astronauts" have served on Freedom, while "American cosmonauts" have served on on Mir-2.


 * Soviet Moonshot and Extraterrestrial: Announced in 2005, the Soviet space program has begun work for a Soviet Moonshot and beyond. The USSR announces that the Moonshot program will begin in 2012, with a Moon landing as early as 2015. Despite the Americans wanting to win this "second space race," the American Constellations Program is set for a Moon landing as early as 2020.

Content

 * Flag of the Soviet Union (New Union).svg
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 * Flag of the Soviet Union (New Union).svg

News Headlines

 * December 18 – announces the death of its Dear Leader,.


 * December 18 – Czech writer and and first non-communist President of, , dies at the age of 75.


 * December 11 – The is accepted for membership in the.


 * July 10 – The sinking of cruise ship  on the in, leaves 129 people dead or missing.


 * May 29 – Sergei Bagapsh, President of, dies from complications of surgery in Moscow.


 * March 12 – A 9.2 Earth Quake strikes 70 miles Japan, resulting in a castrophic Tsuami, Nuclear Power Plants on the coast to be unsafe.


 * March 5 – recognizes the.

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