While we are told that there are 18 starfaring nations, the author never bothers to mention many of them! From the list of colonies, we can derive that the 18 starfaring nations in 2300 AD are: America, Argentina, Australia, Azania, Brazil, Canada, Canton, England, France, Germany, The Inca Republic, Japan, Manchuria, Mexico, Nigeria, Texas, The UAR, and The Ukraine. There is some question about Russia, which some Star Cruiser scenarios mention as having warships, but which has no colonies! Could this be a confusion of Russia with the Ukraine?