South Alliance (Twilight of a New Era)

The South Alliance (Alianza del Sur, in Spanish; Aliança do Sul, in Portuguese) is a collective political, defense and economical pact between Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Uruguay. The main purpose of the Alliance its to guarantee non aggression and arbitration of disputes between its members states and cooperate to develop common interests and a coordinated approaches to issues in the region.

It began on the 15 may 1915, when Argentina, Brazil, and Chile signed the treaty (Consultation, Non-Aggression and Arbitration Pact) that created the ABC Pact. This treaty was designed to develop cooperation, nonaggression and the arbitration of disputes between its signatories. The unwritten purpose was to oppose the growing hegemony of the US on the affairs of Central and South America since the Mexican Revolution (Tampico Affair and Veracruz Invasion) and invasions in the Caribbean and Central America. In January of 1920 ABC Pact, now South Alliance, is formalized has a permanent agreement and alliance between Argentina, Brazil and Chile and Uruguay. Its scope is widen to include political, defense, trade, cultural and scientific cooperation. The Alliance was one of the supporters of the creation of the Pan-American Union. In 1935 Mexico was invited and given the status of observer. The membership of Uruguay was due to its economical integration with Argentina and Brazil and being Montevideo the seat of the main institutions of the ABC Pact.

Development of the Alliance
With the formal set up of the Pan-American Union, the Alliance gained a permanent seat in its Council. The Permanent Commission was given the powers to designate, recall and give out instructions to the person that occupies that office.

In 1921 it is established the Servicio de Guardacostas del Sur (SGS, Coast Guard Service of the South). 1925 marks the start of the anual joint sea exercises of the 4 navies and the SGS coordinated by the Joint Chiefs of Staff Commission and alternated between the Pacific and Atlantic oceans

In 1930s the Economic and Social Development Commission was established has way to encourage industrial development and the integration of the land and air transport and communications. The Scientific and Cultural Exchange Commission was also established to enhance academic accreditation and certification of higher education institutions and common scientific research and cultural exchange.

In the 1940s it was established the Antarctic Common Territory (Territorio Común Antartico, between latitudes 90 West to 25 West, below 60 South longitude) made from the union of the territorial claims of Argentina (1942) and Chile (1940). The Antarctic Scientific Council was created. Its mission is to explore, establish permanent bases and coordinate all scientific research on Common South Territory.

Organization of the South Alliance

 * Presidential Summit (Cumbre Presidencial). Biannual meeting of Chief of State and Government, with Ministers of Exterior Affairs, Economy and Finances and Defense. Defines the general and common policies of the Alliance.
 * Permanent Commission (Comisión Permanente). Its the main executive organism that carries out the decisions of the Presidential Summits and agreements of the South Alliance. Its integrated by one representative of each state member and since 1920 a common representative agreed by the member states that acts has President of the Commission for a period of 4 years. Each of the national representatives is in office has long has it has the political support of its country. A secretariat assists the Permanent Commission.
 * Arbitration Commission (Comisión de Arbitraje). Two legal experts designate by each member country for a period of 6 years and partially replaced according to a set schedule .It serves to arbitrate and mediate in all matters that affect the members states and the Alliance.
 * Joint Chiefs of Staff Commission (Comisión del Estado Mayor Conjunto). Integrated by the Chief of Staffs of the member countries. Its mission is to coordinate the defense of the territorial space (land, air and sea) of the member states. It coordinates and commands the joint military actions of the South Alliance. Its in charge of the joint mobilization of the Army, Navy and Air Force. It created and commands the Servicio de Guardacostas del Sur (Coast Guard Service of the South) that assists and coordinates rescue missions in the territorial sea limits and the Antarctica.
 * Economic and Social Development Commission (Comisión de Desarrollo Económico y Social). Same composition has the Permanent Commission.
 * Scientific and Cultural Exchange Commision (Comisión de Intercambio Cientifico y Cultural). Three scientific experts or knowledged cultural contributors (writers, artists, etc) named for a period of 4 years and replaced according to a set schedule. They elected the President of the Commission for a period of 4 years.
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