Kalistan

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"Kalistan is drifting from Keris" says Foreign Minister
As northern States practice foreign policy of Alienation, Kalistan looks closer to home
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
November 12, 5638


Lady Waltrip discusses evolving Anantonese Policy following Kundrati War

What was once a very promising relationship between Kalistan and Kerisian states, including Egelion, has turned into what Her Imperial Majesty's Foreign Minister described yesterday as a "policy of alienation." The remarks were given at a luncheon celebrating the retirement of long time Kalistani Ambassador to Egelion, the Honorable Miguel Marques-Ontiveros.

"Despite the best efforts of Ambassador Marques to stay engaged and informed about what is going on in Egelion, he's found himself completely shut out of most opportunities for cooperation in the Egelian capital," said FM Waltrip at the luncheon. "He has always represented this Empire well in Altea, but chose to take early retirement because he felt like attempting to get any information about anything at all was like asking a brick wall. In addition, a recent survey of treaties between our two governments reveals that a couple main treaties Egelion was believed to have signed, the Anantonese Economic Standardization Accord and the Anantonese Security Community, have in fact not been signed. It is unclear if they had ever signed them, though the Government of Egelion had expressed interest at some point in doing so. As a result, Egelion has been enjoying the benefits of the Seleyan Customs Union while not observing any of the requirements of the treaty itself."

The fact that Egelion is not a member of either treaty regime immediately shifts a number of things, according to the Foreign Minister. "As we have been under the belief that Egelion was an active member of both the economic and security arrangements, we have been preferring Egelion over others simply because we prefer to do business with those who want to do business with us. Learning that Egelion has opted to not join the Customs Union immediately makes them eligible for reciprocal trade policy. No longer are our markets completely open to Egelion. This will necessarily shift a significant portion of our trade back to the south. The primary beneficiaries of this will be Lodamun and Gaduridos, and by extension Likatonia and Valruzia. Similarly, all military and security cooperation between Kalistan and Egelion will end, and any future arrangements will take place on a bilateral basis, if they are to take place at all. This includes intelligence sharing, which to be completely honest, has never come from Egelion on any level."

The Egelion policy of alienation will cause Kalistan to drift away from Keris, and has made former Ambassador Marques' job more difficult. "Ambassador Marques told me that the Egelion government treated him cordially as one would expect, but getting simple things like requests for information met were 'next to impossible,' Meetings were skipped by high ranking Egelion officials, or handed off to underlings, and important state visits were nearly impossible to coordinate. It got so bad this summer, that we received a message from the Queen of the Kingdom, Queen Nicole Montalivet, who is an Ananto by birth, to pass on her personal regrets that the two countries had strayed so far apart."

The Foreign Minister noted that Her Imperial Majesty is now considering whether to downgrade the Embassy in Egelion to a consulate, or whether to name a new Ambassador. "Given Egelion's obvious policy toward Kalistan, we're not sure whether naming a new Ambassador to Egelion will serve either state. Egelion's intention seems to be to alienate Kalistan so maintaining a full embassy seems to be less supportable at this point." The Foreign Minister has also expressed an intention to withdraw from both the Romulo Fund and the Organization for Stability and Cooperation in Democratization.

"Kalistan has done more to promote democratization in Seleya than any of the other signatories of the treaty, regrettably, and we can still do that work without being tied to a treaty. Similarly with the Romulo Fund: As it is not providing relief anywhere, Kalistan has been contributing a quarter of a percent of its GDP for years now, and would rather spend that money directly on assisting with Seleyan stability and Cooperation."

Her Highness Princess Michelle Ananto-Sandoval, head of House Ananto is currently in discussions with Her Imperial Majesty regarding Miramar's investments in Santamar Bank. "Our initial investment of ₭30 million, along with another ₭20 Million in reserve capital made by Lady Dana Ananto in 5591, compounded over almost 48 years with additional monthly contributions is now worth about ₭230 Million, even at the meager interest rates Santomar was giving House Ananto for such a substantial investment," said FM Waltrip. "Miramar can imagine multiple projects to invest that sort of money in in countries that actually wish to work with Kalistan." A decision on Miramar's investments in Santomar Bank is likely to be made in days, rather than months, but at this point, it seems "almost certain" that Kalistan will divest in the Egelion economy entirely. "Not sure what that will do the bank," said FM Waltrip, "but Egelion is busy turning Keris and Dovani into Canrille 2.0, so I think they will be fine."

While Egelion has denied that there is any recent change in policy, the policy of alienation seems to have been in place for some time. The King of Egelion opted to skip Empress Mary's Coronation, and the only reason he has visited the Anantonese Empire was for the funeral of Lady Dana Ananto, who was his spouse's mother. Meanwhile, Egelion has currently been working to align Dovani against the Anantonese Empire, because they were apparently piqued that Kalistan was fighting fascism while they would have preferred to let fascism spread.

"Treating Egelion like just another nation, rather than one Kalistan has fraternal ties to will force Kalistan to focus on Seleya more," said Lady Waltrip. "But Her Imperial Majesty said a friendship is a two way street, and she no longer thinks she should be the only one putting in any effort to maintain this one." The drifting will ultimately end the 50 year long friendship that Kalistan has maintained with the House of Montalivet since the date of their initial founding as a cadet branch of the Lourrenais Imperial Family, and will ensure that the the Anantonese Empire turns from the west to the north when it looks for threats. "We'll stay cordial with Egelion. After all, its not like Romulo himself has become a fascist. He seems upset instead because Kalistan was fighting fascists, despite his government's rhetoric against extremism."

In other news, FM Waltrip noted that the Syndicalists of Baltusia are once more becomming active. She said the Defense Ministry will be conducting exercises in the Lucid Valley, just north of the Baltusian Frontier this winter, and that it is keeping a wary eye on Baltusia. "Her Imperial Majesty has stated that Kalistan stands ready to aid Athosians in the event of any reprisals or disorder against them from the Syndicalist Government. But for now, we don't want to unnecessarily antagonize the Baltusian Government: We have done that before and it has not ended well, ever. Eventually we would hope to normalize relations with our Southern Neighbors but right now we are taking a wait and see approach."

@TheRepublic