Val Verde (fictional country)

Val Verde is a fictional country or city used by Hollywood writer and producer Steven E. de Souza when his stories require a South- or Central-American locale that will not cause legal or diplomatic problems. The location first appeared in his 1985 film "Commando".
The name translates as "Green Valley", as "Val" is valley in numerous Latin-based languages (Portuguese, Italian, Spanish, old-fashioned French, Galician and others).
This fictional country has also been used as a location in Hank Green's book, "A Beautifully Foolish Endeavor."
Appearances.
A fictional country carrying the name of Val Verde has appeared in a number of films, television programs, and comics by de Souza:
Outside of de Souza's own work, there are other appearances, either linked by shared personnel, or as a direct reference. For example:
Origin.
Steven de Souza explained his reason for using Val Verde in his "Sheena" comic:
Portrayal.
Val Verde has principally been used as a plot device or location in place of real Latin American countries in action and adventure movies, as a particular result of the United States' rocky relations with many nations in the region during the 1980s.
When glimpsed in "Commando", it appears to be a poor nation, where subsistence agriculture (i.e. livestock) is side-by-side with military propaganda and constant military presence. Inhabitants appear poor but happy, and there is evidence of a trade embargo reminiscent of that placed on Cuba in the presence of battered but functional vintage 1950s cars.
Locations.
As well as studio shots, other locations have been used to portray Val Verde on film:
Legacy.
The comedy group Elephant Larry made a series of comedy sketches about the country of Val Verde. The sketches take place between the scenes and off-camera during the film "Predator".
The spider genus "Predatoroonops", named after the spiders' similarity to the Predator himself, has a species named "Predatoroonops valverde".
Comedian Steve Hofstetter referenced Val Verde in one of his Edward Snowden parody videos, having Snowden say "I was just kind of hoping you guys were a real country."
Author Hank Green uses Val Verde as the secret location for a lab in his book “A Beautifully Foolish Endeavor”.