South American union is created
- Share via
A South American union was born as leaders of 12 nations set out to create a continental parliament.
Some see the Union of South American Nations, or Unasur, as a regional version of the European Union. Summit host Brazil wants it to help coordinate defense affairs across South America. Venezuela’s Hugo Chavez calls it a counterweight to the United States.
But divisions remained. The organization’s first secretary-general resigned before the organization formally met, saying some leaders had balked at his vision of putting other regional trade blocs under Unasur.
Sign up for Essential California
The most important California stories and recommendations in your inbox every morning.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
