Setting
The Rio Grande Republic is a lot like a small, under-socialized dog; loud, nippy, and a royal pain in the ass, but too small to do any real damage or worry about. Although very aggressive with its neighbors, conducting small raids along their borders, it has never done any real damage. Most of the unpleasantries happen when one is forced to go through the Rio Grande. Although many a lost caravan has gone into the Rio, few ever came back out.
According to the scarce reports from people who escape the Rio, it has a booming slave industry, a mutated scorpion problem, and several undetonated nuclear missiles at its disposal. No official reports exist.
It has no allies, but many enemies, including Texas, Arabia, and California.