Poor nations now poor economic bloc

Cuzco, Peru -- the twelve South American nations that aren't French Guiana entered into a political and economic pact that "would give them a stronger voice in dealing with the United States, Europe and Asia."

The South American Community of Nations is essentially a merger of two existing free trade entities, Murcosur and the Andean Community of Nations, along with the inclusion of Chile, Guyana and Surinam. Former Argentine president Eduardo Dualde said the integration process should take about two years.

Thank God the CIA has been balls deep in South America low these many decades, murdering reformers and bringing dictators to power, or we might have had another (See: SE Asia, See also: EU) threat to our global economic hegemony.

As it stands now, hope of a "stronger voice" is more a long-term projection than an immediate benefit.

These twelve countries, when formed like Voltron, will almost--almost--scrape together a Gross Domestic Product to rival India. Though, to their credit, they kick the hell out of the African Union.

The SACN will also have a higher per capita income than the former Communist Bloc countries, the Commonwealth of Independent States, none of which knew what money was until like 10 years ago.

Also:
Wikipedia: South American Community of Nations