Foreign relations of Westarctica

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

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

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.

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
Holy Empire of Reunion
- 2023 - in Rio de Janeiro
Empire of Karnia-Ruthenia
- 2023 - in São Paulo

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.

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
Republic of Molossia
- 2019 - in Molossia

List of diplomatic summits

Grand Duke Travis, Emperor George II, and Prince Paul in Sydney, Australia

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

Flag	Nation	Recognition	Trade Status	Diplomatic Interactions
	Republic of Molossia	Alliance Military cooperation	Trading partner	Diplomatic interactions between Westarctica and Molossia
	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 2023 - Formal dinner at MicroCon 2023 2023 - Formal dinner at MicroCon EU 2023
	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 2023 - Formal dinner at MicroCon 2023
	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 2023 - Formal dinner at MicroCon 2023 2023 - Formal dinner at MicroCon EU 2023
	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 2023 - Formal dinner at MicroCon EU 2023
	Federal Republic of Lostisland	Mutual Recognition Military Cooperation	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
	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 2023 - Formal dinner at MicroCon 2023
	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
	Empire of Angyalistan	Mutual Recognition	No economic exchanges	2018 - State visit in Paris 2019 - Formal dinner at MicroCon 2019 2023 - Formal dinner at MicroCon EU 2023
	Empire of Karnia-Ruthenia	Mutual Recognition	No economic exchanges	2023 - State Dinner in São Paulo 2023 - Formal dinner at MicroCon 2023
	Empire of Austenasia	Mutual Recognition	No economic exchanges	2019 GUM Summit
	Isle of Lithua	Mutual Recognition	Economic cooperation	2023 - Formal dinner at MicroCon EU 2023
	Principality of Hélianthis	Mutual Recognition	No economic exchanges	2023 - Formal dinner at MicroCon EU 2023
	Kingdom of Scone	Mutual Recognition	Economic cooperation	2017 - State visit in Scone 2019 - Diplomatic visit in Bakersfield
	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
	House of Homestead	Mutual Recognition	Economic cooperation	2015 - Formal dinner at MicroCon 2015 2017 - Formal dinner at MicroCon 2017
	Principality of Wy	Mutual Recognition	No economic exchanges	2022 Sydney Diplomatic Dinner
	Kingdom of Talossa	Non-aggression Pact	No economic exchanges	2017 - Diplomatic entente at MicroCon 2017

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.