Futuristic Security Council: 2037

The United Nations Security Council remains the most authoritative body of the United Nations in 2074. The Security Council, as its goal, seeks to identify and resolve threats to peace and security through binding decisions. The ability to impose sanctions or even authorize the use of force via military intervention leaves the Security Council uniquely positioned to tackle the most challenging issues the United Nations faces. Structurally this council is also distinct, having a set of five permanent representatives who wield veto power on resolutions as well as ten other non-permanent state representatives who are elected by the General Assembly.

New Year’s Eve, 2037. As shopkeepers shutter their stores early throughout the nation, tourists huddle tightly in Times Square, and Alaskans marvel at the northern lights, recently elected Donald Trump Jr. is ruminating in his Mar-a-Lago office. Thousands of Americans line the streets of Washington, curious to see if the president will continue the tradition set by his father of conducting a military parade on the president’s birthday. However, this year’s parade will not be on Constitution Avenue. Trump has directed troops to assemble at the Canadian border to fulfill his father’s final ambition, the only one Donald Sr. could not complete by signing an executive order. As Donald Jr.'s birthday approaches its final hours, the boots of United States Army soldiers plunge into the snow-covered soil of Canada. The annexation attempt tears apart the United States’ international alliances and divides the home-front similarly. The war divides NATO, placing members in an unprecedented position, forcing countries to pick a side, and scrambling to develop new loyalties. 

The excessive spending by the federal government to fund this war creates a debt crisis in the United States, pushing down the United States’ credit rating and preventing the federal government from funding social services. This creates vast wealth disparity between states. Donor states, given their lack of dependency on federal funding, have high credit ratings and are able to borrow money. States with a net positive balance of payments from the federal government, were more economically dependent on the federal government, earning them a lower credit rating, limiting their ability to borrow money. This results in a higher concentration of wealth and power in the Northeast and the West Coast, while Midwestern and Southern states suffer from financial and political turmoil. Seeking to shed the burden of supporting states that are unable to fund their own services, states of the Northeast and West Coast begin to declare themselves independent. 

The West Coast, a technological hub, highly educated, and highly populated region of the country declares itself as the independent nation of “Pacifica”. Independent Pacifica has begun to potentially consider joining Canada in defense if enough other allies can be recruited. 

The Northeast declares its separation from the Union. It is the financial hub of the continent, home to various industries, the academic centre of the Western Hemisphere, and home to the states with the highest credit scores in the country. The Northeast is considering negotiating its own peace with Canada; however, it remains suspicious and uncertain of cooperation with its American counterparts. 

The remaining states, known as the Mid-Southern Alliance, are led by Donald Trump Jr. from the capital of Palm Beach, Florida. States of the Mid-Southern Alliance, while credit-poor, have access to the oil-producing and agriculturally rich regions of the country. The Mid-Southern alliance continues the assault on Canada, from Idaho to Michigan, hoping to gain access to Canada’s oil, agriculture, and resource rich lands.

 Across the world, the power vacuum left by a fragmented United States emboldens Russia to eye the possibility of re-expanding its orbit of states. Similarly, China eyes Taiwan once again and attempts to establish itself as the hegemonic power in Asia and the Pacific. In this new world, everything is up for grabs. 

1. How does the United States attacking Canada force your nation to realign its military alliances? 

2. Does the power vacuum left by the fragmentation of the world's largest military create opportunities or vulnerabilities for your country? 

3. Which country will your nation recognize as the legitimate successor of the United States?

4. The United States was the second-largest trading nation in the world. How will your country negotiate new trade agreements with the newly formed nations of the former United States? What resources from the former United States does your country most need access to? What markets of the former United States your country most need export access to?

Balance of Payments Portal | Rockefeller Institute of Government

Countries & Regions | United States Trade Representative

Numbers and Per Capita Distribution of Troops, By State