Foreign relations of Westarctica
As a sovereign nation-state, Westarctica engages in foreign relations with many nations, micronations, and other international governmental organizations. Aside from brief periods during the reign of Grand Duke Philip and Prime Minister Waesche, all foreign affairs have been handled by the Grand Duke of Westarctica; however, starting in 2018, a Minister of Foreign Affairs was appointed to handle day-to-day interactions with representatives from other countries.
History
In May 2005, Westarctica entered into its first international agreement, a treaty of friendship and recognition with the Republic of Molossia. This treaty became the go-to template for treaties of many other micronations, and portions of the text can still be found in micronational treaties to this day. Westarctica has signed treaties of friendship and recognition with dozens of other micronations from around the world and also entered into several multi-state pacts such as the West-Antarctic Treaty, the West-Antarctic Free Alliance and the Antarctic Micronational Union (which it later left).
United Nations status
Since January 2015, Westarctica has enjoyed non-consultative status as a member of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs - NGO Branch. In this capacity, representatives from Westarctica have participated in annual planning sessions with other NGOs to create and implement Sustainable Development Goals on a global scale.
Diplomatic activities
State visits
Grand Duke Travis has undertaken many state visits on behalf of Westarctica and has traveled widely to promote the country's interests and to help raise awareness of micronations in general. Starting in 2015, there was a major shift in the nature of these visits and public speeches: instead of advocating exclusively for recognition of Westarctica's sovereignty, the Grand Duke began advocating on behalf of the fragile West Antarctic ecosystem and made environmental conservation a key talking point.
Westarctica has received representatives from many micronations and a few sovereign nation-states. One guest of honor at the Grand Duke's 2004 wedding to Grand Duchess Cathryn was the nephew of the Minister of Finance from Togo (a small country on the West African coast).
List of state visits
In this case, a "state visit" is defined as the exclusive meeting of two Heads of State.
- Republic of Molossia
- 2005 - in Washington, D.C.
- 2010 - in Molossia
- 2012 - in Molossia
- 2017 - in Molossia
- Kingdom of Vikesland
- 2010 - in Vikesland
- 2012 - in Los Angeles
- Kingdom of Shiloh
- 2012 - in Anaheim
- 2015 - in Los Angeles
- 2016 - in Anaheim
- 2017 - in the Colony of Calsahara
- Royal Republic of Ladonia
- 2014 - in Los Angeles
- 2018 - in Burbank
- 2021 - in Las Vegas
- Kingdom of Ruritania
- 2017 - in Ruritania
- Kingdom of Scone
- 2017 - in Scone
- Empire of Angyalistan
- 2018 - in Paris
- Ambulatory Free States of Obsidia
- 2019 - in Los Angeles
List of diplomatic visits
In this case, a "diplomatic visit" is defined as the exclusive meeting of a member of Westarctica's government meeting with the diplomatic representative of another nation.
- Royal Republic of Ladonia
- 2018 - in the Colony of Calsahara
- Principality of Aigues-Mortes
- 2018 - in Los Angeles
- Republic of Saugeais
- 2018 - in Los Angeles and the Colony of Calsahara
- Kingdom of Scone
- 2019 - in Bakersfield
List of diplomatic summits
In this case, "diplomatic summit" is defined as an event attended by the leaders of three or more nations.
- Summit of the Three Kings - 2012
- MicroCon 2015 - 2015
- MicroCon 2017 - 2017
- Summit Upon the Seas - 2018
- 2019 GUM Summit - 2019
- MicroCon 2019 - 2019
- Sydney Summit - 2022
- MicroCon 2022 - 2022
Diplomatic Corps
Westarctica's Honorary Consular Corps is a volunteer organization that encourages Westarctican citizens and hereditary nobles around the world to become representatives for Westarctica in their home country. All of Westarctica's diplomats must first pass the Honorary Consul Training Program.
Relations with micronations
Republic of Molossia | Alliance Military cooperation |
Trading partner | Diplomatic interactions between Westarctica and Molossia | Westarctica's first ally |
United Slabovian Empire | Mutual Recognition Military cooperation |
Economic cooperation | 2015 - Formal dinner at MicroCon 2015 2017 - Formal dinner at MicroCon 2017 2019 - Formal dinner at MicroCon 2019 2019 - Exercise: Westarctic Chill 2020 - Exercise: MOSTLY HARMLESS 2022 - Formal dinner at MicroCon 2022 |
|
Royal Republic of Ladonia | Mutual Recognition | Economic cooperation | 2014 - Informal dinner with Heads of State 2015 - Formal dinner at MicroCon 2015 2018 - Diplomatic visit 2018 - Informal dinner with Heads of State 2019 - Formal dinner at MicroCon 2019 2021 - State Dinner in Las Vegas 2022 - Formal dinner at MicroCon 2022 |
|
Kingdom of Ruritania | Mutual Recognition | Economic cooperation | 2015 - Formal dinner at MicroCon 2015 2017 - State visit in Ruritania 2017 - Formal dinner at MicroCon 2017 2019 - Formal dinner at MicroCon 2019 2022 - Formal dinner at MicroCon 2022 |
Diplomatic relations initiated through Calsahara |
Kingdom of Shiloh | Mutual Recognition Military cooperation |
Economic cooperation | 2012 - 2022 Numerous diplomatic and cultural exchanges 2017 - Participated in the Invasion of Calsahara |
|
Principality of Aigues-Mortes | Mutual Recognition | Economic cooperation | 2017 - Formal dinner at MicroCon 2017 2018 - Diplomatic visit in Los Angeles 2019 - Formal dinner at MicroCon 2019 2022 - Formal dinner at MicroCon 2022 |
|
Grand Duchy of Flandrensis | Mutual Recognition Military Cooperation |
No economic exchanges | 2010 - West-Antarctic Treaty 2014 - West-Antarctic Free Alliance 2017 - Formal dinner at MicroCon 2017 2022 - Formal dinner at MicroCon 2022 |
|
Federal Republic of Lostisland | Mutual Recognition | Favored trading partner | No diplomatic visits | |
Ambulatory Free States of Obsidia | Mutual Recognition | No economic exchanges | 2015 - Formal dinner at MicroCon 2015 2017 - Formal dinner at MicroCon 2017 2019 - State visit in Los Angeles 2019 - Formal dinner at MicroCon 2019 2022 - Formal dinner at MicroCon 2022 |
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West Who | Mutual Recognition | Economic cooperation | 2015 - Formal dinner at MicroCon 2015 2017 - Formal dinner at MicroCon 2017 2019 - Formal dinner at MicroCon 2019 2022 - Joint release of MicroCon stamps 2022 - Formal dinner at MicroCon 2022 |
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Kingdom of Scone | Mutual Recognition | Economic cooperation | 2017 - State visit in Scone 2019 - Diplomatic visit in Bakersfield |
|
link={{{2}}} Commonwealth of Dracul | Mutual Recognition | Economic cooperation | 2019 - Official partner for 2019 Global Campaign | |
Empire of Atlantium | Mutual Recognition | Currency exchange (through Calsahara) | 2022 Sydney Diplomatic Dinner 2022 Diplomatic Visit to Atlantium |
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Republic of Saugeais | Mutual Recognition | No economic exchanges | 2017 - Formal dinner at MicroCon 2017 2018 - Diplomatic visit from Saugeais 2019 - Formal dinner at MicroCon 2019 |
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Empire of Angyalistan | Mutual Recognition | No economic exchanges | 2018 - State visit in Paris 2019 - Formal dinner at MicroCon 2019 |
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Empire of Austenasia | Mutual Recognition | No economic exchanges | 2019 GUM Summit | Diplomatic relations initiated through Calsahara |
Commonwealth of Boshka | Mutual Recognition | Economic cooperation | 2017 - Formal dinner at MicroCon 2017 2019 - Formal dinner at MicroCon 2019 |
|
House of Homestead | Mutual Recognition | Economic cooperation | 2015 - Formal dinner at MicroCon 2015 2017 - Formal dinner at MicroCon 2017 |
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Grand Duchy of Broslavia | Mutual Recognition | Economic cooperation | 2015 - Formal dinner at MicroCon 2015 | |
Principality of Wy | Mutual Recognition | No economic exchanges | 2022 Sydney Diplomatic Dinner | |
Principality of Hélianthis | Mutual Recognition | No economic exchanges | No diplomatic visits | |
Byzantium Novum | Mutual Recognition | No economic exchanges | No diplomatic visits | |
Kingdom of Talossa | Non-aggression Pact | No economic exchanges | 2017 - Diplomatic entente at MicroCon 2017 | Do not recognize each other's claims in Antarctica |
Relations with former micronations
Nation | Recognition Status | Trade Status | Diplomatic Interactions | Notes |
Kingdom of Vikesland | Mutual Recognition Military cooperation |
Trading partner | 2010 - State visit in Vikesland 2012 - State visit from Vikesland 2015 - Formal dinner at MicroCon 2015 |
Diplomatic relations initiated through Calsahara Nation dissolved in 2018 Former sovereign joined Westarctica as Prince Christopher in 2019 |
Relations with UN member states
Although Grand Duke Travis has sent nearly a hundred letters to leaders and ministers of foreign governments, a few, listed below, are especially notable.
Nation | Diplomatic interactions |
Sudan | 2004 - Sent demarche to the President of Sudan condemning the genocide in Darfur. |
Luxembourg | 2005 - Sent and received correspondence from Grand Duke Henri regarding the death of his mother, Grand Duchess Charlotte. |
Monaco | 2005 - Sent and received correspondence from Prince Albert II regarding the death of his father Prince Rainier III. |
Russia | 2015 - Secured permission to utilize abandoned Russkaya Station from Valery Lukin, head of Russia's Antarctic program. |
United States | 2015 - Secured assistance for expedition to Antarctica from Alfred Schandlbauer, Senior Advisor for Antarctica in the Department of State. |
Cambodia | 2020 - Sent and received correspondence from King Norodom Sihamoni regarding his birthday celebrations. |