Part of the country series of articles.
TRAVEL ADVISORY: EXERCISE HEIGHTENED CAUTIONThe Commonwealth advises travellers to exercise heightened caution in this country due to ongoing instability, civil unrest or other risk factors. Travellers should avoid non-essential activities, keep a low profile and remain aware of local conditions at all times.
| Federal Republic of the Americas | |
|---|---|
| Federal Constitutional Republic | |
 |
|
| Capital | Santa Maria |
| Languages | Spanish, English, Mayan, and many other indigenous languages and creoles |
| Population | 42,822,215 |
The Federal Republic of the Americas (F.R.A.) is a federal republic in Central America, occupying a continuous stretch of territory between Mexico’s southern border and Colombia. It was assembled from the former colonial territories of the Captaincy of Guatemala and the Viceroyalty of Panama, and its forty-two million people include Spanish-speaking communities, indigenous groups and a large number of distinct fusion cultures. Spanish, English and Mayan are all in common use, alongside many other indigenous languages and creoles. It is a very Catholic country.
It is a parliamentary democracy structured around nine federal states, each with its own regional parliament and capital, and defence rests on a militia system. The federal capital, Santa Maria, is a planned city on the isthmus west of Lake Nicaragua. It also has one of the great rail journeys in the world.
Its territory is interrupted by the Panama Canal Zone, which is administered by the US and divides the national territory. The F.R.A. contests US ownership of the canal under international law. Guatemala’s historical claim to Belize was absorbed into the Federal Republic and has not been formally renounced, though in practice the border is open and trade between the two countries is substantial.
It is fairly prosperous by the standards of Colombia and Venezuela, and trades primarily with the US, Peru and Vekllei. Relations with Mexico are moderate to poor. Disputes over trade and migration have also complicated relations with Colombia and Venezuela.