Eldera

Eldera is a small country in South America.

Since the 1980s, the country had been under the control of a pro-American dictatorial regime. During this time the American military conducted a top-secret Metal Gear development project in Eldera, of which Matt Campbell was a member. When the Cold War ended, the project was terminated, and the Americans prepared to withdraw from the country. Shortly afterward, the pro-American regime, having lost its backing, was faced with armed uprisings among the country's minority groups, which called for the establishment of a separate homeland. These uprisings were instigated by Spetsnaz operatives under the command of Sergei Gurlukovich. The country was thus torn apart by civil war, with mercenaries and arms merchants constantly coming and going in and out of Eldera. In the tumult of the war, the Metal Gear disappeared without a trace.

The Metal Gear's existence was eventually reconfirmed in the late 2000s, and a contingent of U.S. Marines were sent to a still war-torn Eldera to recover it.

Behind the scenes
Eldera is a fictional country mentioned in the non-canon Snake Tales story "Confidential Legacy," included in Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance.