ABC nations

ABC countries, or ABC Powers, is a term sometimes used to describe the South American countries of Argentina, Brazil and Chile, which are seen as three of the most powerful and wealthy countries in South America. The term was mostly used in the first half of the 20th century when they worked together to develop common interests and a coordinated approach to issues in the region with relatively little influence from outside powers in contrast with the Cold War governments.

Arms race

ABC Powers Conference, 1914

This is the first well-known use of the phrase 'ABC Powers'. On May 20, 1914, the ABC Powers met in Niagara Falls, Canada, to mediate diplomatically in order to avoid war between the United States and Mexico after increasing tensions over the Tampico Affair and the United States occupation of Veracruz, and developing issues that led to the Mexican Revolution. At the conference, the United States was represented by Frederick William Lehmann, a former United States Solicitor General, and Joseph Rucker Lamar, an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States.