International role play planning and discussion

[Wu Han]

I think a lot of what is said here is good and informative, I would just also suggest that it is useful sometimes in constructing blocs more organically to think not only about which states you may have an affinity toward, but to think about which states your country would oppose or compete with. General examples of this might be: competition between two oil producing states; opposition to a specific ideology or ideologies; competition over rights/access to specific resources or regions (see: different canals/channels/bodies of water like the Ananto Strait, which has historically been a ground of conflict); historical grievances. A specific example could include my time in Yingdala, during which the monarchy had deep ties to the deposed royal family of Dankuk; as a result, our government policy toward the subsequent regime in Dankuk was cold if not outright hostile, and we worked to try to get countries to cut ties with Dankuk, hold military drills near that country, etc.

This isn't to detract from any of the points/ideas/plans put forward here, but just to suggest another angle to look at this problem (i.e. the general lack of tension and competition). In sum: find countries which your country could reasonably oppose, so that you may build your foreign policy not only around what countries you like, but around opposition to a country or group of countries your government does not like. If these reasons don't exist... make them up.

[Autokrator15]

I am going to try to write up a general summary of the foreign policy of various countries to provide a guide for planning role-play. Here is an example for Vascania.

Vascania
Allies: Jelbe, Malivia, Yingdala
Rivals: Beiteynu, Luthori, Lourenne
Priorities: Retaining an influential position in international oil markets, promoting national economic development, reducing outside influence in Dovani and Temania
Concerns: Foreign control of important national industries, foreign influence in southern Dovani, not being treated as an equal partner by other countries

Okay, this is going to be difficult as we have put ourselves in a crazy web, sorry in advance:

Holy Luthorian Empire
Allies: Kundrati*, Lourenne, Rutania, Beiteynu**
Close friends, borderline allies: Hutori***, Dolgava, Commonwealth countries
Rivals: Beiteynu**, Dorvik, Kundrati*
Priorities: 1. Increasing global influence, 2. securing regional (Artanian) influence together with Kundrati, 3. strengthening and expanding the Commonwealth, 4. securing partnerships and alliances with Dolgava and N&D. 5. Preserving oil trade with Vascania and rekindeling relationship with them. 6. Opposing Beiteynu-Lourrene hegemonic dominance and reasserting Luthori as a great power
Concerns: 1. Beiteynu aggression and pressure, 2. Vascanian policies towards Luthori, 3. Lourennese influence in Seleya, 4. Yeudi meddeling

*= Kundrati is our obvious regional rival. Despite we outshine them in some areas they are obviously the only nation that rival us in Artania. Though we have been allies Luthori has been strategicly inclined to not do anything that would help them get ahead of us. However, with the decline of Dorvik and the rise of Yeudi meddeling and MSCO threats, Luthori views Kundrati as a natural ally and has accepted that both are equals and shine in with their talents in different areas. Personally I view it as France and Great Britain in Europe. They are a cornerstone in our future endeavours in Artania and Majatra.

**= Beiteynu is obviously been our most beneficial ally in the last what? 100 years? They have been instrumental in giving us the room and space to expand by opposing Dorvik. However, their recent actions have put Luthori off of the pro-Beiteynu train and towards more caucious actions. On paper they are allies, in reality we are entering a grey area with them, they are currently our rivals, even though they are stronger than us (for now).

***= Though on paper Hutori isnt an ally, they are obviously close friends and important to us. They are together with Mordusia the most important parts of the Commonwealth in our eyes. With them we want to build a Commonwealth that can be a world bloc of influence and show military force. Hutori is also our first sister nation, our most important ex-colony and royal brother. Our foreign affairs will always tend to good relations with them and all Commonwealth nations. Making them distance themselves from Lourenne and trust more on us is our goal.

I think its fair to add a bit about the Commonwealth. It is Luthori's passion project. It wants to increase its power and influence through it accross the globe. But its more than that, it is part a realistic way to form a neutral bloc in world politics, economic incentives and idealistic view of the past. Luthori however does not wish to grow at the expense of these nations but by and with them. A strong Luthori means a strong Commonwealth. Luthori will go to war to defend the Commonwealth members, regardless of formal alliances. Luthori feels it is obligated to help Likatonia, Lodamun, Mordusia, Rutania and Hutori come what may.

Not mentioned is Malivia, due to current OOC and IC events its hard to pinpoint them, prior to this they were an ally we put under our protection.

[Luis1p]

Lourenne:

Allies: Beiteynu, WDEU, Canrille (Alduria, Kanjor, Rildanor), Luthori, Kundrati.

Rivals: Yingdala (?), Vascania (?), CSCO nations.

Priorities: Idealist Humanitarianism. Our priority is to be "leader of the free world". Our goal is to spread Lourennais ideals (sustainability, justice, humanitarianism) abroad. Lourenne has no "true" enemies. We will do anything to save face.

One of our priorities is to begin detaching from Beitenyu, but not completely erasing relations.

Another priority is to keep good relations with Yingdala and Vascania since we've been relatively friendly, but understand that may not happen.

Concerns: Creating enemies and a fall from grace. Lourenne's vastly good at using words and policy to be in the good graces of many nations. Lourenne has an ulterior motive, to continue it's long lasting position as a leader of humanitarian values. Lourenne would abandon it's allies if it meant safeguarding it's idealist policies. Any attack towards humanitarianism concerns Lourenne. Lourenne is wary at the way it's allies are conducting themselves, including Beiteynu.

[GreekIdiot]

Moledet Medinat / Homeland State of Beiteynu (Beiteynu)

Allies: Lourenne, MSCO, Kundrati, Dankuk, Luthori, Alduria, Hanzen (Zardugal, Istalia, Pontesi, Vanuku)
Rivals: Dorvik, Trigunia, Dolgava, Vascania, Hutori, Yingdala, Rildanor, Kafuristan, AU
Priorities: Protecting the Yeudi People and Yeudish interests around the world and ensuring it has the means/network to always be able to do that. Prefers not to go direct on most cases (i.e. a condemnation), usually "plays both sides", always looks to leverage situations and offers toys freely to maintain means/network.
Concerns: Unrivalled hegemons, Migrant's Pass, Jelbic Peninsula, oil and gas supply

[Drax]

Although not regarding transparency as always an international virtue, here is some information on Deltaria:

Allies: MSCO has mutual defense pact.

Rivals: Not really but some lingering hostility from Jelbe and likely others for past conflicts.

Priorities: Long period of concentrating on developing trade in Majatra and relying on MSCO as primary national security. As we continue to restore our military and economic capacity following a period of decay, that Majatra centered policy has run its course. We will be exploring reopening other relations with a view to mutual benefit. We recognize useful work done by Kundrati Union in the Security Council of passing Resolution 138. While we are not in a position to be entirely green, we can continue moves in that direction.

Concerns: It would be nice if the World Congress were capable of influencing peaceful resolution of conflicts but it is not currently up to it. Hence the efforts of regional and hegamonistc blocs which have been largely ineffective. We hope to keep the MSCO alive but that is out of our hands. Our views on it are not shared by other members so we are pretty much alone. We've been there before and know how to handle it.

[_nicolo_02]

Dundorf
Allies (includes Partners): Kundrati (alliance not formal but very close relationship) | Dorvik, Beiteynu, Ikradon, Aloria, Rutania, Dolgava, Lourenne, Tukarali (Partners and nations with standing treaties on friendship and trade).
Rivals: N/A (realistically, Dorvik and Luthori would be the top Artanian economic rivals for Dundorf, but there haven't been tensions in this sense recently)
Priorities: Maintaining wide and diverse international and trade ties, securing energetic independence through nuclear and renewable energy and also multiple surces of import, Humanitarism and Artanian cooperation among equals.
Concerns: The return of an excessively hegemonic nation in Artania, landlocked status in the context of international trade.

[Liu Che/Zhuli]

Yingdala

Allies/Partners: Outside of formal treaty arrangements, none. Traditionally, this would include Dankuk, Seko, Jelbe, and Vanuku. Vascania has also been an historic ally, which appears to be reemerging.

Rivals: It is too early to declare formal rivals, but it appears Hanzen could be one - even if it is for misunderstood reasons. Beitenyu, Luthori, and Dolgava could become rivals, as may Lourenne depending on how well the countries manage their priorities.

Priorities: Recovering from decades of totalitarian rule, securing Jienism as the ruling philosophy of state and among the people, seeking to remove foreign military presence from nearby, ultimately seeking to restore strong ties with the Gao-Showa-Jelbo-Tukaric nations and removing foreign influence from Dovani. Even longer term, establish a leading role in Dovani and return to norms setting at the World Congress.

Concerns: Foreign - especially Artanian and Artanian-influenced nations - in Dovani. This includes Dolgava. While military presence has much to do with this, Tian’an is also concerned with preserving traditional Gao-Showan values (especially where they are sliding like in Hanzen). This may put Lourenne and Yingdala at odds over their respective interpretations of humanitarianism and justice. Equally, Yingdala is concerned with any resurrections of colonial/neo-colonial empires.

[Reddy]

Jelbe
Allies (includes Partners): Vascania, historically Vanuku, Deltaria, Bianjie and Indrala.
Rivals: Kafuristan, historically Zardugal and occasionally Deltaria.
Priorities: Basic survival as a nation state, Pan Jelbicism and utter destruction of Zardugal along with preservation of traditionalist and monarchist values.
Concerns: Liberal interventionism and WC activism. Zardic imperialism. Use of black magic against Khanate (ey, we believe what we believe)

[Augustus Germanus]

Davostag
Allies (includes Partners): Hutori, Dolgava, at times Kundrati, historically Endralon and Dorvik.
Rivals: No recognized rival for the time being.
Priorities: Ensuring the safety of Davostag sovereignty, maintaining internal social and political stability, continuing the development of the Davostagian national identity, and keeping a watchful but interested eye on international events.
Concerns: Foreign but specifically non-Makonic political, military and economic influence in Davostag.

[Wu Han]

Cildania

Friendly: MSCO countries generally; Lourenne (intra-elite ties); Deltaria (trading partner); Jakania (trading partner); seeking closer ties with Majatran island countries (Selucia, Badara).
Mixed Feelings: Beiteynu (tense though peaceful relationship which ebbs and flows; Cildania aspires to reach the level of a peer competitor to Beiteynu economically, and to eventually dominate shipping in the Majatran Sea region).
Rivals: N/A.

Affinities: Liberal democracies; constitutional monarchies; moderate politics; island nations; market economies; agricultural exporters
Priorities: Securing customers for Cildanian export products, especially wine and tobacco. In the mid-to-long term future, would like to create an international organization dedicated to issuing protected designation of origin certificates for unique products around the world (similar to the EU model).
Concerns: Reliance on energy imports; declining food production (fish) and growing reliance on imports; instability in Majatra; piracy and security in the Majatran Sea; regional dominance of Deltaria and Beiteynu

Export products: wine*; tobacco*; condoms; scooters; fishing and merchant vessels; coal; iron*; silicon; fertilizer; fish products*; leather goods; handguns; olive oil*
Import products: petroleum; natural gas*; steel*; construction machinery; vehicles; grain*; gems; fruit;
Major trading partners: Nations within the MEA/MFTA/MACEA free trade zones (Cobura, Istalia); Deltaria; Jakania; Badara

*major exports/imports.