This is where the Articles start to look like an exercise in contradiction. In spite of the states not wanting to get too buddy-buddy and"nation-y" with each other, the writers use the word "friendship" twice early on.

First, the text refers to the nation as a "firm league of friendship" (3.1) between the states. This lays the groundwork for how the document would describe the new country: it was going to be like an old school college fraternity.

Next, "to better secure and perpetuate mutual friendship" (4.1), citizens were allowed to go to any state without passing things like border security and customs. That's pretty much how the new-school European Union works today. Giving free passage to citizens made the states closer than two separate countries, sort of like letting your friend use your car.

And just for good measure, the Articles refer to the United States as "the Union" throughout, especially in Article 13. After all, what's friendship if not a union between like-minded people? The document also promised a "perpetual" (13.1-3) Union, which was the 1700s-equivalent to giving someone a BFF bracelet.