Rise of the Long Sea Authority

[Jydsken-Østveg]

President Lepomäki sat with her hands folded together clasping each other as Chancellor Rheinfeld spoke. She found it amusing how the Eiffellanders could care so much about the interests of others who would never care so much for them in return. Perhaps it was like unrequited love. She wondered if the Eiffellanders would even notice that the Pohjanmaans were at least trying to engage in diplomatic resolution before war.

Lepomäki smiled at the Chancellor before she spoke, “Do you have a better idea for how to move forward and achieve your goals then? In my opinion we could elect to all have a glass of wine on a yacht together in the Loong Sea and they’d condemn us for having the yacht made of wood from the wrong country. So I think the real question to ask is what can we agree to that has them the least angered. For this point, I will defer to the wisdom of yourself and Hayabusa.”

She paused for a second eyeing the Aurarian. “I want to see peacebuilding initiatives grow from this conference. The art of peacebuilding is not just pieces of paper, but the integration and exchange of culture and ideas. I would advocate cultural exchange between all of our nations.” She stopped short there. She wanted to gauge the enthusiasm in the room.

 

[Rheinbund]

Chancellor Rheinfeld seated himself again.

"I agree with the idea of cultural exchange between our nations. Absolutely. Because that is the beginning of understanding each other's motives. I would also like to try to become a kind of mediator between the Postdelegationist countries on the one hand and Pelasgia, Kadikistan and the Thaumantic nations on the other hand. However, it will take some time before success will grow from such an initiative," he said.

 

[Oneida]

Sevastian watched patiently as the Dictator rattled off the names of the deceased with such tact that it was obvious he had been prepped for hours on just the right time and delivery of the line for maximum impact at the conference. Regrettably, Sevastian had provided that moment and given the Dictator his grand stage.

“Dictator Hayabusa,” the Minister softly spoke “To my knowledge, at least, there are no cameras in this room. We are not being broadcasted, we are not being recorded – no one other than the ones here are listening. Therefore, I see no need for such theater. In Auraria we value life in its purest, most pleasurable form with the highest regard. The loss of it is such a tragedy and one that paints us. I know the names of the deceased and I mourn for their families knowing that their loved ones were ripped from them due to the vicious of realpolitik and the constant clash of nations. I am here today in order to prevent even more children from being ripped away from their parents, siblings, and their own children.”

“We can argue for hours, days, or even weeks, but you and I – as well as all those gathered in this room – know very well the peculiarities and particulars of the incident that lead to the death of those ten men. We all know it was not an Aurarian asset that killed them.”

“I want a commission to monitor the affairs of the Long Sea as much as any other. For far too long one nation of variable power has declared dominion over it and it has brought much the same conflicts as the one we’re here to resolve today. To take a conference involving five nations – two of which hold no sand on its shores and proclaim a new military authority of the Long Sea invites conflict. You know that it does – so unless you and the Pohjanmaans are prepared to fight war after war and learn the thousands of names of those who have fallen, I strongly suggest you explore a different course of action.”

The Minister paused for President Lepomäki’s comments in response to the Eiffellander Chancellor.

“I would happily discuss the idea of cultural exchanges once we settle on an agreed plan to handle the slightly more tedious topic of a supranational military organization to govern the affairs of the world’s most vital trading route.”

 

[Jydsken-Østveg]

President Lepomäki sighed. She did not understand why the Aurarians kept trying to force a few points that did nothing but derail the peace process. She was well willing to let them slide as concepts in of themself, but if they had to be talked about, she could not let them go about without response. She decided she’d say it without directly addressing anyone specifically.

“There is something to be said for the Loong Sea and what it represents. It is not an exclusive area. There is an inherent problem with the status quo, and I do not mean the treaty. The idea that only the nations and peoples that possess grains of sand along its coasts can represent global trade, transit, and interests is misleading. This is an international waterway that is so important to the world that it cannot be dictated by less than a handful of nations. This similar problem has plagued the relationship between Eiffelland-Retalia and Serenierre, and the best solution is to open the waterway to as many actors as possible. Own your coastlines, but there is no right of any nation or peoples to dictate whether or not a naval asset or any nation may transit or be stationed around the Loong Sea. Especially considering the relationships Pohjanmaa and Touzen have fostered some Loong Sea nations as friends.”

She picked up a pen and appeared to write something on a piece of paper. Perhaps a note, but it was difficult to make out to any other participants. In reality, it was just a small scribble of nothingness. Something to give her the time to collect the right words she needed before she embarked on her next point which would not be easy.

“I cannot accept the idea that Auraria bears no burden for the death of Pohjanmaan sailors. They were fired upon first after identifying themselves. Fine, perhaps a mistake by your captain who acted impulsively after the obvious security threats that Auraria had and has continued to face. Yet to accept no responsibility is a non-starter. The Espoo did nothing wrong. In international waters it had the right to continue its own trajectory without interference from Gallian assets. If you disagree with this point, I will make it a point to shoot at the aft of every Aurarian ship our Navy passes because apparently then there is nothing wrong with this.” She gave a pause to perhaps add some drama but mostly because she did not want to end her point with such negativity. She also knew she could not just make a statement. Thus far only statements continued back and forth and this conference had really progressed nowhere. Nobody seemed to want anything, and this was actually the first point of contention that directly involved only the participants. The rest of the conference was strange because it circled around the ideas of perhaps what other nations not in attendance thought. Here she’d further the process towards peace by making an exchange and hopefully put one of the major issues to rest.

“Accept responsibility, compensate the families, and guarantee the right of the Free Navy to traverse the Loong Sea without hinderance from Auraria... in doing so, I in return will accept your narrative that our ship acted suspiciously drawing your fire, and agree to have the Free Navy avoid similar confrontation with the Republic of Auraria’s Naval forces with a very simple identification system and rules of engagement between our nations at peace... if we can accept this now, then I can forgive the cost of the vessel.” She was ready to give up demanding compensation for the ship because it was old and needed to be retired likely anyway in the next five years. Of course, nobody here knew that, not even Hayabusa.

 

[Oneida]

"'This is an international waterway that is so important to the world that it cannot be dictated by less than a handful of nations,'" Minister Orenes repeated the President's statement "Thank you, Madam President, we are in agreement. It is the belief of the Aurarine Republic that our five nations cannot dictate the affairs of the Long Sea - yet that is the very thing you seek to do."

"Look," he continued "Auraria has no right to stop the Free Navy from navigating the Long Sea, even if there is ample evidence to suggest that its mission is to agitate the nations of the Long Sea to force a conflict. Auraria has no right to stop the Free Navy from docking in the ports of friendly nations, which I notice also aren't here. You have your right to navigate, my country has agreed to compensate the families, but we will not accept responsibility for an action we did not commit."

 

[Rheinbund]

"Regarding the notion that the Long Sea is an international waterway that is so important to the world that it cannot be dictated by less than a handful of nations, that is something we all here in the room agree to, I think," Chancellor Rheinfeld said. "And indeed, I agree with His Excellency Minister Orenes that, as a consequence, the five countries on this table here cannot set up a military authority over the Long Sea without consulting and involving other countries."

"Regarding giving the Pohjanmaan and Touzenese Navies free passage through the Long Sea, well, that is already the case as per international law. Now suppose that the Eiffelloretalian Navy forms a naval task force, with aircraft carriers, troop landing vessels, helicopters, we grab the really big cutlery out of the cupboard. We send that task force to the biggest Pohjanmaan harbour, position it at 12.1 nautical miles from the Pohjanmaan coast but in such a way that vessels going to or leaving the harbour have to travel tens of nautical miles to circumvent our naval task force. According to international law, that is allowed. Your Excellency President Lepomäki, will you then also say 'well, it is allowed according to international law, so it is fine that that fleet is there' as well? I know that this is a very overexaggerated example, not comparable with ... recent appearances of the Pohjanmaan Navy in the Long Sea, but it does illustrate my point."

 

[Touzen]

„The immediate goal of creating the LSA is to secure peace in the Espoo affair. There have been some principle steps being taken towards the acceptance of our position, but we have not yet secured this goal. The more long-term goal of this proposed arrangement is to make conferences like this one unneeded in the future“, Hayabusa motioned towards Rheinfeld.

„Minister Sevastian, if you want a commission for the Long Sea as much as we do, I am puzzled by what we are actually arguing about. This is exactly what has been proposed. As stated previously, I would envision this group to have a standing open invitation to all concerned nations, even the ones that are so disappointingly conducting themselves as disruptive forces in the international arena by refusing to attend this meeting. This invitation has not changed.

I have also stated previously that any joint military activities in the Long Sea would be based on voluntary contributions. I foresee the authority’s military component to be working on an opt-in model, which will allow governments that are wary about this body to ease themselves into greater involvement. At the very least, the signatories to the Long Sea Authority must agree to the freedom of navigation stipulations formulated in the draft proposal, while leaving greater security cooperation to a spearhead of nations willing to take that step. This, I will find, no well-meaning statist government can refuse, except if they have an interest in deliberately stoking the fires of war in the Long Sea.“

The Touzen leader stopped for a moment, but decided not to engage the Aurarian on the issue of soil in the Long Sea.

„There is a reason I have proposed that we would discuss issues of compensation and responsibility after we have settled the more pressing issues. We cannot discuss compensations without discussing peace first. I strongly suggest we defer that issue until we have achieved our main objective here. Surely we would not like to bother the likes of the esteemed Chancellor Rheinfeld with these matters of bilateral concern.“

 

[Rheinbund]

"I understand your position, Your Excellency Dictator Hayabusa. However, we have to be realistic about one thing: The LSA cannot function without the consent of countries like Pelasgia, Beautancus and Engellex. Those countries, especially Pelasgia, have phrased their rejection of the LSA in a very clear way. It is needed that you, and also you, Your Excellency President Lepomäki, reconcile with Pelasgia, Beautancus and Engellex before the LSA can become a success. As long as this reconciliation has not been conducted successfully, the LSA will be an object of permanent quarrel, probably even war, instead of a vehicle to maintain peace and stability. As it stands now, I cannot sign for Eiffelland-Retalia joining the LSA," Chancellor Rheinfeld said.

 

[Oneida]

Chancellor Rheinfeld’s declarative statement surprised Minister Orenes. For the hotblooded passion that the Aurarians earned a reputation, the exact opposite was true of the Eiffellanders – they, known for their unabashed commitment to compromise. Orenes would report regret to President Sanabria that he himself did not attend this conference as it was almost a guarantee that the President and Chancellor would be in close communication over what will come as a result of this conference’s apparent failures. He would also be sure to report the Serenien’s silence over the matter. Minister Orenes sighed as he looked to his team for assurances.

“I agree with Chancellor Rheinfeld. Even if I affixed my signature to the agreement, as it stands now, I am confident that the National Court would never approve it. The LSA, today, is too provocative to too many nations – it invites conflict. I suggest that this meeting conclude with an announcement that an agreement was struck between our countries to form a commission to jointly monitor the affairs of the Long Sea with a primary focus on creating a body in which crises can be addressed quickly and openly. Then, a second summit be proposed and bring together more stakeholders both along the Sea itself and the globe in order to negotiate some form of agreement between the collective armed forces,” Orenes responded.

 

[Touzen]

"I recognize the position of your government, although I consider it to be a grave mistake", Hayabusa nodded towards the Eiffellander. "Your ascension to this protocol would have significantly bolstered the position of the LSA to encourage those governments that would be free to join this group of powers at any moment of their choosing to do so, but as stated before, just like those governments, the government of Eiffelland will be welcome to partake in the LSA at a later point in time."

"What remains indisputable however is that this agreement must be reached here today between the Aurarian Republic and those that it has engaged with arms. This is why we are here today, to avert the immediate danger of war that would result from the failure of this conference. A more multilateral agreement would be preferable, but an agreement between the Aurarine Republic, its ally and the free peoples of the East and North is the minimum that we must achieve today.

Minister Orenes, you will recognize that what you suggest is essentially what the initial proposal about the LSA has been. As such I find your proposal pleasing because it reflects our position. To expand upon that, the agreement I require today must reflect a spirit of genuine detente and cooperation.

This means that the free passage of post-delegationist defense assets through the Long Sea must be recognized by Solis, that our governments issue a joint declaration rejecting any attempts at hegemony, regardless by whom, over the Long Sea, that the LSA's commission, as suggested by you and initially proposed by us, would create a, as you put it, monitoring mechanism, which in effect means a defense consultation and information mechanism of all relevant military actors in the Long Sea that coordinates information about the position of our armed assets in the Long Sea to give visibility and prevent cases like the Espoo from being able to be constructed as accidents.

Finally the issue of multilateral task forces in the Long Sea, the goal of which would be to reduce the overall number of military assets each actor has to deploy to the area to safeguard their perceived interests. I agree that this can be handled in a second summit and must operate on an opt-in basis, as long as there is a binding commitment made today to create no initiatives that could be interpreted to run counter to the intentions of this summit - that is to say, the signatories commit themselves to not militarily upsetting the status quo in the Long Sea by arranging for new military agreements regarding it outside of the context of this conference. In summary, the status quo of our mutual deployments shall be respected, and no new assets from outside actors must be invited into the Long Sea.

If we share the same opinion here, as your words suggest, we have found an agreement."

 

[Oneida]

“There is no immediate threat of war, Dictator – unless you were to bring it,” Minister Orenes answered “Solis shall recognize the right of Post-Delegationist assets to traverse the Long Sea and we will join you in a declaration rejecting any singular entity’s attempts at hegemony over the sea. Additionally, the Republic will join in a call for an international monitoring commission to ensure another Espoo does not occur.”

“Such a declaration will only make mention of the need to discuss the implementation of a multilateral task force in the Long Sea which shall be held at a second conference with which will hopefully garner higher attendance.”

The Minister leaned back in his chair.

“I believe, then, our business here has concluded. Let us meet again shortly to resolve these issues permanently.”

 

[Touzen]

"Are we in agreement regarding the rejection of further militarization of the Long Sea at this point in time, then?"

 

[Oneida]

"We are," Minister Orenes confirmed "Until our next meeting, Dictator Hayabusa."

Minister Orenes and the Aurarian Delegation rose to return to their plane and eventually Solis as quickly as possible.

 

[Jydsken-Østveg]

“Ahem,” the President cleared her throat to catch the attention of the Minister before he departed. “You must sign.” She hoped that Hayabusa would do her a favor and present a document with those terms eloquently written so that the Treaty of Yellow Rock Castle could be presented, signed, and finished with a photo op.

 

[Rheinbund]

Chancellor Rheinfeld was a bit astonished about President Lepomäki's attempt to stop Minister Orenes. It was in the line of her character to do so. On the other hand, it looked like there was an agreement between Orenes and Dictator Hayabusa. OK, it was not the LSA they had agreed to, but it was a guarantee that Auraria wouldn't act against Postdelegationist military vessels. Furthermore, Orenes had promised that Auraria would more or less cooperate with Hayabusa's ideas about the Long Sea. The Postdelegationist nations had achieved the maximum that they could achieve without sowing the seeds of war.

"Your Excellencies Minister Orenes and Dicator Hayabusa, I want to express my gratitude about you having reached an agreement. This conference may not have led to founding the LSA, but it did increase the mutual understanding between our nations, and that is very important as well," he said.

 

[Touzen]

"It stands to reason that this can be only the first step. Peace has been preserved for the moment, but we must build a strong foundation so that future conflicts over the Long Sea will never get to this stage ever again. I hope that Eiffelland will see fit to support such initiatives, in time."

Then, if the Aurarian delegation has signed, Hayabusa would exchange pleasantries and goodbyes with the other attendants, pose for press photos, before departing back to Shinkyô. If not, he would be waiting to see how the Aurarian delegation reacts to the Northern interjection.