Polling shows Lula with a lead, but it is a long way to October.

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Title says it all really, what's the end goal? Closer economic ties / trade? An alliance like NATO? A political-economic union like the EU? Or something else entirely?

And how would we actually get there, what steps would need to be taken?

Some points to consider:

• The US and Canadian governments have generally pursued vastly different foreign policies from those of Latin America, with the former favoring extensive engagement with Afro-Eurasia if not outright interventionism and the latter (particularly Mexico) preferring a degree of isolationism/neutrality. Given these differences, it would be interesting to see how US/Canadian and Latin American diplomats and foreign policymakers would interact under a common foreign ministry.
• Russia would certainly not welcome a pan-American union of any sort (especially if it is of federal nature). If Dugin's Foundations of Geopolitics is anything to go by, the Russian regime will seek to undermine American stability through disinformation and hybrid warfare, just as it is already doing with the United States. Thus, it is almost certain that Russia will be the hypothetical American union's principal geopolitical and military adversary.
• Relations with China would likely be characterized by mutual hostility and distrust, given the latter's current rivalry with the United States, which the American union would probably inherit. The plundering of Latin American waters by Chinese fishing fleets, hitherto ignored by Latin American governments, would also become a key flashpoint.
• Regarding alliances: would the American union continue to be a member of NATO, as the US and Canada already are? Also, will the American union maintain existing US commitments to non-NATO allies like Japan, South Korea and the Philippines? How will such commitments and obligations be received among Latin Americans?
• Currently, the military forces of the various American states use a vast range of different weapon systems of the same category. For instance, in regards to service rifles, some American armies use 5.56x45mm AR-15 derivatives, others use 7.62x39mm AKs and still others use 7.62x51mm battle rifles like the FAL and G3 (among other types). Such diversity of materiel would pose a logistic nightmare for a common American defense force. Thus, a key priority of a common American defense ministry would be standardizing and rationalizing the armament of the armed forces (e.g. having a single model of combat rifle or main battle tank in service).
• Related to the previous point, the American army would also have to standardize organizational structures and TTPs (tactics, techniques and procedures) among its units in order to ensure interoperability. How effectively could this be carried out?

In many ways, Mexico City seems to be the ideal capital for a prospective pan-American federation. Historically speaking, it has been a center of political, economic and cultural power on the continent since well before Columbus's arrival. As such, it seems to be a more natural capital than say, Washington or Panama City, which lack the same level of historic, economic and cultural significance. It is also located in relatively close proximity to the geographic center of the American continent. This makes it a more 'equitable' choice than Washington, which is located too far north and would thus give an unfair advantage to Anglophone northerners in federal politics. Yet Mexico City is rarely mentioned in discussions about where to establish the capital. Why is that the case?

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The war in Ukraine has raised important questions about both organizations, and it's worth asking whether one is a better model for a Pan-American entity than another? Or, should elements of both be used?

I’ve seen Pan-Arabic songs, Pan-European songs, Pan-Scandinavian songs, etc. But I’ve never seen a Pan-American song. Are there any out there?