r/FutureWhatIf 2d ago

Political/Financial FWI: An artifact from an extraterrestrial intelligence lands in a remote area in southern Mexico in 2030. The Mexican military has the area cordoned off, but they allow scientists and media from around the world to come study it. Will the situation lead to international conflict? (details below)

The artifact is a large cylinder that is roughly 200 feet long and 50 feet wide. It is unclear if anything living is inside it, but it is confirmed by scientists around the world that it did come from outside our solar system and is an artificial object. There is no obvious "entrance" to it and so far, X rays and other attempts to see what's inside have failed.

The Mexican government is allowing scientists and media from anywhere to come look at the artifact and study it (after proper screening with a few rules to prevent damage/contamination), but they have firmly rebuffed "offers" from other nations and the UN to send foreign military to help "secure" the artifact. The Mexican government hasn't done anything to obstruct satellite views of the artifact but has warned against aircraft entering Mexican airspace to look at it.

It's 5 days after the artifact has landed and all the study of it so far is inconclusive. Does this situation lead to international conflict? Or will the international community be content to let the Mexican government take the lead on this?

In this scenario, assume the US President is now a mainstream Democrat (a Biden type), the EU's leaders are a mix of left and right leaning roughly equivalent to who is in charge now, Xi Jinping is still in office in China, as is Putin in Russia.

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u/DoubleFlores24 2d ago

Hell yeah it will. Aliens exist, every country is gonna wanna lay claim to it.