[Discussion] Gothic Sea Piracy

[Corrientes]

Ada Valen Fernández, Ebrian representative to the EF:

Esteemed representatives,

We haven't met on this forum since the whole Zaran Crisis, but yet another issue is hitting the current political and economical status quo, which is nothing but the nefarious consequence of the Polar Divorce, which has left the Gutnish without probably the most important riches of the Gothic Sea, namely gas and oil. The United Kingdom of Ebria understands this issue and also understands how great the Gutnish economy has been hit once a hard border has been set up where it was absent for decades, if not more than a century, while also the Polar Divorce also destroyed the production lines between Gutarike and the other Scanian nations such as Jysken-Ostveg, creating an economic crisis which will probably push Gutarike into a deep recession, which our analysts expect a decrease of as much as 25% of the Gutnish economy, should it not be stopped.

Yet, instead of requesting the necessary aid, the Gutnish authorities have decided to alienate the world and are attacking commercial ships which come from the rest of the world into the Gothic Sea, towards Tarusan, Ostmarker, Salian and Gutnish ports. There are already initiatives for an intervention to solve the issue, with the Holy Frankish Empire, Prydain and even Radilo and Pelasgia requesting it and beginning to prepare for it. We say only this: a return to 17th century bucaneering is extremely dangerous as our modern day prosperity has been built on trade. This trade flows even between nations that are rivals or even in a cold war, such as Tianlong and Tarusa. We cannot simply return to random attacks on tankers and containerships, as that will fully destroy the commerce in the Gothic Sea, it will force Tarusa, Ostmark and Salen to import and export everything through the Holy Frankish Empire, and then by train through Lethonia and Thuringau, which is even more problematic than it sounds, because with the Polar Divorce, and now with the creation of the Hansa between Metsamaa and Saskimaa (Germania), the political instability will need months to make trade and transportation viable on such an economical level that it can compete with what was before the Gothic Sea naval shipping.

We hereby request the representatives of Gutarike to return on the path of legality and to not enforce a policy of state sponsored piracy, or go as far as to use its own navy for this, as attacking a commercial vessel is a hostile act against the nation where the vessel is registered and it will only end up escalating in a war, where much of the world will turn against Gutarike and further isolate it, destroying its economy and standard of living even more. We request an end to this policy and a return to peaceful and stable shipping on the Gothic Sea and invite the nations of the world, especially those which have announced anti-piracy initiatives to come together in an EF sponsored legitimate response.​

 

[Tianlong]

Tao Shun, Ambassador of the Republic of Tianlong, acting EF representative.

The Tianlong Republic promotes dialogue and is open to diplomatic solutions to this anachronistic crisis. We do not believe that a pirate fleet can operate undisturbed in the Gothic Sea without the approval of the major powers of the area. Therefore we believe, currently only a guess on which our services are investigating, of a deliberate operation to the detriment of the freedom of navigation of neutral countries bordering the same sea. With this in mind, we urge countries in the area not to interfere beyond their international law by importuning ships in international waters as if they were an extension of their own territorial waters. We will not tolerate such behavior.

As previously announced, Tianlong's activities will be concentrated in the CETO operational scenario, to all of our new allies in the area.

 

[Metsamaa]

Ludwig von Lengerke Meyer, Ambassador of the Hanseatic Republics (Saksimaa-Metsamaa), acting EF representative:

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The Hanseatic Republics and Metsamaa find it somewhat insulting to suggest that the major powers of the region have acquiesced to piracy as the new status quo. Rather instead, that this anachronistic crisis is the result of piracy conducted as not been seen in centuries. When faced with pirates utilizing state of the art technologies and weaponry, engagement is far more troublesome and holds far higher consequences. Equally, reports of such unreasonable searches of vessels is unacceptable and the Handelsmarine will not tolerate these reports and will defend shipping in this region from unreasonable infractions upon the freedoms of such sailors.

The Hanseatic Republics and Metsamaa will do their utmost to maintain the defense of shipping in this region and expects to cooperate with fellow Gothic Pact members including the Holy Frankish Empire and Empire of Tarusa.

 

[Rheinbund]

Richard Walsrode, representative of the Rheinbund to the European Forum

Esteemed colleagues,

I have to support our colleagues Shun and Fernández in this matter. Whether the great powers around the Gothic Sea tacitly allow the piracy in the Gothic Sea or not, it is disturbing to see that the navies of Tarusa, the Hanseatic Republics, Ostmark and Jysken-Østveg do not manage to solve this piracy issue. These countries themselves highly depend on safe ship traffic on the Gothic Sea, so I don't understand why they don't make sure that piracy doesn't happen there. I also have to agree with our colleague Fernández that it is disturbing and highly condemnable that a sovereign nation involves itself in state-sponsored piracy. I would like to know whether the countries bordering the Gothic Sea have a plan to counter this problem.

 

[Ostmark]

Alexander Rosenbaum, Ambassador of the Republic of Ostmark, acting EF representative

Esteemed Representatives,

The Republic of Ostmark has, since the early appearance of the issue at hand in the Gothic Sea, adopted a zero-tolerance policy against piracy and has firmly condemned these state-sponsored acts of terrorism against unarmed civilian vessels by the hand of post-delegationist navies that transformed our sea in a lawless region. The Nationalrat of the Republic of Ostmark has recently approved the mobilization and deployment of the Seewehr. They will relentlessly counter piracy in our national waters and even in international waters if the situation will require it. However, the size and capabilities of the Naval Defense Force are not ufficient to ensure safety in the entire region and, unfortunately, we must limit our operational theatre to a very small area of the Gothic Sea. In any case, the Ostmarkian navy will do everything in its power to restore the rule of law. What we don't have in numbers, equipments and firepower, we will make up in bravery.

 

[Metsamaa]

Alexander Rosenbaum, Ambassador of the Republic of Ostmark, acting EF representative

Esteemed Representatives,

The Republic of Ostmark has, since the early appearance of the issue at hand in the Gothic Sea, adopted a zero-tolerance policy against piracy and has firmly condemned these state-sponsored acts of terrorism against unarmed civilian vessels by the hand of post-delegationist navies that transformed our sea in a lawless region. The Nationalrat of the Republic of Ostmark has recently approved the mobilization and deployment of the Seewehr. They will relentlessly counter piracy in our national waters and even in international waters if the situation will require it. However, the size and capabilities of the Naval Defense Force are not ufficient to ensure safety in the entire region and, unfortunately, we must limit our operational theatre to a very small area of the Gothic Sea. In any case, the Ostmarkian navy will do everything in its power to restore the rule of law. What we don't have in numbers, equipments and firepower, we will make up in bravery.

Ludwig von Lengerke Meyer,
Ambassador of the Hanseatic Republics (Saksimaa-Metsamaa), acting EF representative:

The Hanseatic Republics and Metsamaa would like to make it clear that baseless insults upon the post-delegationist ideology and governance system will not yield better protection to Ostmark's business fortunes within the Gothic Sea. Our Cities and Republics demand an apology for this slanderous insult at the world's highest body for discourse. Post-delegationism does not automatically yield such lawlessness that piracy should be assumed. Nor should the Navies of the Hanse and Metsamaa be considered automatically prone to committing pirate-like acts in our common sea.

We should hope that such ignorance and blatant disregard for their immediate neighbors is not also a tradition that extends to the Ostmärkischer dinner table.

 

[Corrientes]

Ada Valen Fernández, Ebrian representative to the EF:

Señores, please, let's act maturely and discuss the issue at hand, not derail the talks. The attacks and condemnation doesn't target Post-Delegationism in itself, but rather the use of the ideology as an excuse for the actions of the Gutnish navy.

The United Kingdom fully stands behind and supports the governments of Jysken-Østveg and the Hansa and wishes to see peace and stability return to the Gothic Sea.

We hope that the Holy Frankish Empire, Salen, Ostmark, Jysken-Østveg and the Hansa understand that we are all here in the same camp, and international support for their own endeavours don't mean a violation of their sovereignty. The Gothic Sea Piracy issue is something that as much as it affects Gothic Sea nations first and foremost, it affects the nations of the world too and for that, we want to use this forum to come together in solidarity to show our support and end the threat.

It is not an attack on an ideology, but rather a politically blind appeal to solidarity, to help and aid the Gothic Sea nations and the world go pats this crisis.​

 

[Nieveland]

Harrison Devlin, Nievish Representative to the EF:

As a long-standing participant in White Helmet initiatives, Nieveland believes in the mediating power of diverse international forces coming together to mitigate complicated regional conflicts with multiple national interests and non-state actors. Like Ostmark we do not possess the largess to project our vision of peace independently, however, we are keen on volunteering as third-party observers in tandem with other delegations to restore a clear vision and sense of security to this most troubling situation.

We will be reaching out directly to Radilo and Rheinbund as partners in the Meridian alongside Ebria, Prydain and Frankish neighbors in the Engelsea, and finally to more distant colleagues in the Gothic Sea such as the Scanian and Tarusan powers to establish investitures of mutual observation and cooperation under the White Helmet where such initiatives are respected.