World of 2026 PART - 6

With no VETO power:

NON-PERMANENT MEMBERS
SPAIN: Following the economic
decline associated with the Oil Crisis,
a series of rightist governments
steered Spain into closer relations with
Washington. Showing resistance due to leftist
distaste, Madrid did not join the Palin Pact. The
country remains an observer state of the AAAPU
(described under the United States).
Washington
has
favored
Madrid
nevertheless, supporting its UN Security Council
submission and working through its leaders to
oppose Germany and Russia. Spain still has strong
ties with Latin America, and often conducts
diplomacy. This distinction brought the former
colonial power into conflict with the newly
ascendant Brazil. This growing animosity peaked
during the Uruguay Crisis of 2025. During the crisis,
Spain and Brazil competed for influence with
humanitarian support, leading to a series of ugly
confrontations, including violence between rival aid
missions. Although Brazil is now ascendant in
Uruguay, Spain has found a regional ally in the
Venezuelan monarch, King Alfonso Juan Bolivar.

REPUBLIC OF KOREA: The
continued division of the Korean
peninsula, and the survival of the
Democratic People’s Republic of
(North) Korea, is one of the great surprises of
2028. At first, with then-US President Obama’s
successful negotiations with North Korea, the
prospects for peaceful reunification and continued
economic development seemed hopeful.
However, after the oil crisis, the North
reverted to its narrow and dictatorial ways, causing
a gradual but evident change within the mindset of
the South. Having abandoned the optimism of its
previous Sunshine Policy of engaging the North, and
increasingly assertive in its disputes with China and
Japan, The Republic of (South) Korea is likely to go
nuclear if Japan does. It has joined the Palin Pact,
concerned about possible North Korean invasion.
President Song-Lee Park Kim has also
conducted “goodwill” talks with Germany and
China, hoping to keep pressure on the North
Koreans. The government also wants to continue to
spread human rights across Southeast Asia, despite
these negotiations with the Chinese.
the
tattered remnants of regional stability.
LIBYA: With the fall of the Gulf
monarchies, Libya is now the clear
leader of the Arab states. It has
continued its policy of peaceful coexistence with
Israel. Libya weathered through the oil crisis of 2020 very smoothly thanks to it more than sufficient resources and meager population. Its GDP soon moved from second best to best in Africa. After Gaddafi’s death and the subsequent tryst with democracy, Libya soon over-shadowed Egypt as the North-African link to the West. Many observers in the country and outside fear all
government will collapse after the impending death
of its long-serving president, the aging Gamal
Mubarak. Islamist government is widely viewed as
the only hope for national unity. Mubarak has
devoted his life to preserving secular government
and countering the influence of the numerous jihadist
neighbors. Libya has negotiated deals with Syria and
other Arab states to share “vital military
technology”, leading to speculation by many that
Libya is developing a chemical and biological
weapons program. But Libya is most visible as the
“restrained” voice of Arab anger and resentment.

Austria: Its existence has been mostly reduced to being one additional vote for Germany. Austria has been Germany’s most faithful supporter I both diplomatic and defense matters. However, its economy is one of the steadiest in EU, and it has been a recurrent subject for extremist attacks for housing the research laboratories for Germany.

Portugal: Again, a nearly neutral stand on all matters make this nation an unknown quantity. It is considered to be closer to Brazil than its neighbor Spain, something which is a very sore point between the two. It is rumored to be researching biological weapons, but no hostilities in recent times mean that such reports are all unconfirmed. Its present government is a liberal yet semi-dictatorial set-up with President P.Luigita and General S.Mariola sharing power.

North Korea: Near isolation from the world around it except for close ties with China and Iran. Continues to be a nuclear pariah, but has come to an unsaid truce with South Korea. Is rumored to have a huge nuclear arsenal. Often indicted of massive human rights violations.

Israel: A smaller player in the Middle-East ever since its nuclear program failed to really succeed, specially in the presence of Iran and Iraq. However, they still command the most fearsome conventional army in the world. With the unresolved Jerusalem issue, it has distanced itself from the USA and makes its individual diplomatic decisions now. It is considered to be close to India and has signed several treaties, about the space program in particular.