Western Bloc (Great White South)

The Western Bloc (a play on "Eastern Bloc - the Soviet-aligned European states in the Cold War) is a term applied to a group of Western Antarctic nations -, , and (and occasionally including  and ); as well as the close relationship they have developed over the years. The term first appeared in the 1980s, but was not commonly used until the 1990s.

Maudland, New Swabia and Santiago are the only countries (other than the French Kerguelen Islands) on the Continent which fall outside of both the Antarctic Anglo-sphere as well as the Antarctic Russo-sphere; and each speaks an isolated language on the Continent (Norwegian, German and Spanish, respectively) and as such, they have become closer trading partners in a marriage of convenience. Norwegian has become the lingua franca of the Bloc, as Maudland lies in a central position between the other nations; and Norwegian was already fairly common in Santiago and New Swabia.

It should be noted that "Western Bloc" also refers to the US-aligned states during the Cold War; though terms such as "NATO" and "the Free World" were preferred for these countries.

Early Relations (1899-1939)
The Antarctic Western Bloc first began to develop a relationship in 1899; when German settlement of first began, and the German colonists began interacting with the nearby, already-established Swedish-Norwegian colony of. Relations were at first cordial, and during its fledgling years, German Antarctica was heavily reliant on Maudland for aid and support. In 1901, was founded, and opened diplomatic relations with several other Nations - including Sweden-Norway and Germany - though this limited diplomacy was certainly not to the later Western Bloc levels.

Santiagan expansion in 1903 gave created a Santiago-Maudland border, bringing these countries closer together. In the later 1900s, and on into the 1910s, Santiago began seeking stronger alliances in Europe; and began making ties to countries such as Austria-Hungary, Ottoman Turkey and Germany (coincidentally, the three major Central Powers of World War I). This led to much closer co-operation between Santiago and New Swabia; developing a close 'fraternal' feeling between the ordinary people of Santiago and New Swabia, which arguably still lasts today.

In the First World War, both Germany and Santiago were Central Powers, tightening the bond between Santiago and New Swabia; but Santiago pulled out of the War early on, and New Swabia was shortly defeated by a joint assault by both British and Russian forces. The years following the War saw these Santiago and New Swabia begin to separate, with Santiagan politics becoming more and more leftist; while New Swabia, under a British Mandate, began drifting towards Fascism. The Spanish Civil War marked the end of the "original Western Bloc", as the Santiagan public fiercely supported the Republicans; while New Swabia staunchly backed the Nationalists.