The Star Wars prequels reintroduced the galaxy far, far away at a very different moment in time. Taking fans back to the years before the rise of the Empire, the prequel trilogy explored the Clone Wars and the downfall of the Republic, all of which was orchestrated by the Dark Lord of the Sith, Darth Sidious. The first step in Sidious’ elaborate plan to seize unlimited power involved having the Trade Federation enact a blockade around the planet Naboo. When the leaders of the Federation next appeared, it would be alongside the Separatist leader, Count Dooku.
Making their debut in Attack of the Clones, the Separatists were the Republic’s enemy in the Clone Wars. The prequels appeared to give the impression the Trade Federation had allied with the Separatists before the war even began, but this wasn’t quite true. The animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars would later attempt to better illustrate the distinction between the Separatists and the Trade Federation at the behest of George Lucas, who made it clear that the Trade Federation was not officially part of the Confederacy of Independent Systems until much later on in the Clone Wars.
The Clone Wars Gave the Separatists New Ships to Avoid Trade Federation Battleships
Count Dooku’s introduction in Attack of the Clones led many fans to believe the Trade Federation had already joined the Separatist Movement before the Clone Wars began. Dooku is first seen meeting with the leaders of the Federation, as well as representatives from other major businesses in the galaxy. However, as Clone Wars executive producer Dave Filoni explained in a behind-the-scenes featurette, the intention of this scene was to show a business deal between the Separatists and various major corporations. The Trade Federation, Techno Union, Banking Clan and others pledge to fund the formation of the CIS and their militia, but there is nothing to stop them from also supporting the Republic — as many do in the early days of the war.
In order to better illustrate this distinction, Clone Wars‘ Umbara arc introduced Separatist supply ships. These hulking, barbell-shaped craft were added at George Lucas’ request, to replace the Trade Federation battleships that were originally going to feature in these episodes. Lucas wanted a clear distinction between the Separatists and the corporations who were — at least publicly — neutral in the war. He also had the Clone Wars production team remove Separatist markings from Trade Federation ships in episodes in which they were featured. However, Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith confirmed the Federation’s display of neutrality did not last.
The Trade Federation Officially Joined the Separatists in Revenge of the Sith
The opening scene of Revenge of the Sith features the Battle of Coruscant, a vast space battle being fought over the Republic capital. While the sequence follows Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker in their Jedi Interceptors, the vast capital ships of the Republic and the Separatists are also seen. Among these are several Trade Federation battleships as noted by their distinctive ringed shape, which proudly bear the blue markings and hexagonal emblem of the Separatists. By this point in the war, the Trade Federation had supposedly fully committed themselves to the Separatist cause.
The Trade Federation, then, were not officially Separatists until the very last days of the Clone Wars, even though their ongoing association with the Separatists may have made it appear as though they were members of the CIS far earlier. Further complicating matters is the fact that Trade Federation leader Nute Gunray — along with the other corporate leaders seen in Attack of the Clones — sits on the Separatist Council. However, this executive body was separate from the Separatist Senate and Gunray’s personal membership did not mean the Trade Federation as a whole was exclusively allied with the Separatists.