Encyclopedia Westarctica

Foreign relations of Westarctica

Revision as of 15:39, 11 November 2018 by Westarctica (talk | contribs) (→‎Relations with micronations: added Angyalistan to the list)

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.

Grand Duke Travis meeting with President Baugh of Molossia and Chancellor Rankin of Slabovia at a diplomatic reception held by the Kingdom of Ruritania in 2017

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

 
Grand Duke Travis presenting President Kevin Baugh of Molossia a framed sheet of Westarctica-Molossia stamps during the 40th Founder's Day celebration in Molossia

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

 
King James of Scone with Grand Duke Travis during the State Visit to Scone in 2017

In this case, a "state visit" is defined as the exclusive meeting of two Heads of State.

List of diplomatic visits

 
King Timothy of Shiloh and Grand Duke Travis onboard the Queen Mary in 2017

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.

List of diplomatic summits

In this case, "diplomatic summit" is defined as an event attended by the leaders of three or more nations.

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

Nation Recognition Status Trade Status Diplomatic Interactions Notes
  Republic of Molossia Mutual Recognition
Military cooperation 		Trading partner Diplomatic interactions between Westarctica and Molossia Westarctica's first ally
  Kingdom of Shiloh Mutual Recognition
Military cooperation 		Economic cooperation 2012 - 2018 Numerous diplomatic and cultural exchanges Participated in the Invasion of Calsahara
  Royal Republic of Ladonia Mutual Recognition No economic exchanges 2014 - Informal dinner with Heads of State
2015 - Formal dinner at MicroCon 2015
2018 - Diplomatic visit
2018 - Informal dinner with Heads of State
  Kingdom of Ruritania Mutual Recognition Economic cooperation 2015 - Formal dinner at MicroCon 2015
2017 - State visit in Ruritania
2017 - Formal dinner at MicroCon 2017 		Diplomatic relations initiated through Calsahara
  House of Homestead Mutual Recognition Economic cooperation 2015 - Formal dinner at MicroCon 2015
2017 - Formal dinner at MicroCon 2017
  Principality of Aigues-Mortes Mutual Recognition Economic cooperation 2017 - Formal dinner at MicroCon 2017
2018 - Diplomatic visit
  Grand Duchy of Flandrensis Political Alliance
Military Alliance
Non-aggression Pact 		No economic exchanges 2017 - Formal dinner at MicroCon 2017
  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
  Kingdom of Scone Mutual Recognition Economic cooperation 2017 - State visit in Scone
  Republic of Saugeais Mutual Recognition No economic exchanges 2017 - Formal dinner at MicroCon 2017
2018 - Diplomatic visit from Saugeais
  United Slabovian Empire Mutual Recognition No economic exchanges 2015 - Formal dinner at MicroCon 2015
2017 - Formal dinner at MicroCon 2017
  Empire of Angyalistan Mutual Recognition No economic exchanges 2018 - State visit in Paris
  West Who Mutual Recognition No economic exchanges 2015 - Formal dinner at MicroCon 2015
2017 - Formal dinner at MicroCon 2017
  Grand Duchy of Broslavia Mutual Recognition Economic cooperation 2015 - Formal dinner at MicroCon 2015
  Kingdom of Talossa Non-aggression Pact No economic cooperation 2017 - Diplomatic entente at MicroCon 2017 Do not recognize each other's claims in Antarctica
  Commonwealth of Boshka Mutual Recognition Economic cooperation 2017 - Formal dinner at MicroCon 2017
  Empire of Austenasia Mutual Recognition No economic exchanges No diplomatic visits Diplomatic relations initiated through Calsahara
  Principality of Hélianthis Mutual Recognition No economic exchanges No diplomatic visits

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

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
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