Yet developments in the 2000s have bought this into question. Proposals to bring together Andean integration and MERCOSUR began in the 1990s. The creation of a 'South American Community of Nations' was announced in 2004, becoming the 'UNASUR' in 2008. In 2005 CAN and MERCOSUR mutually recognized the associate membership of each other's member countries. In 2006, Venezuela, under President Chávez, left the Andean Community and applied to join MERCOSUR. All this raised a large question mark over the Free Trade Area of the Americas. Indeed, a radica, alternative was proposed by Venezuela and Cuba, joined by Bolivia, Ecuador, and some Caribbean and Central American countries, known since 2009 as the ALBA.