Kalistan

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Chancellor of the Empire announces Shift in Policy
"Internationalism has failed," declares Chancellor
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
June 15, 5682


Chancellor of the Empire, Lady Ericka Donahue, at home in downtown Kaliburg

As the world forges new alliances and new tensions flare in Keris and Majatra, Kalistan is set to declare an end to its attempts to reach out to the world that was begun at the beginning of the reigns of Their Imperial Majesties, Emperor Fredrick IV Ananto and Empress Jennifer I Ananto, exactly 10 years ago. "Their Imperial Majesties have determined, after careful consideration and consultation with our foreign policy apparatus, various stakeholders in the Kalistani economy and military establishment, and members of the Peerage, including Her Highness, Princess of the Empire Mary Ananto-DeLaurentis, that the experiment with Internationalism has failed and will be ended. Kalistan is set to return to Nationalism and regionalism, and has become content to let the rest of the world burn itself to the ground."

The Chancellor gave these statements from her home during an interview with The Republic last week. "I think I would characterize the feeling at Cliff House and in the National Assembly as one of resignation," said Lady Donahue. "I think Kalistan tried to play the game, to reset our foreign policy with the rest of the world. We tried to reach out, to be part of solutions to global problems, to make alliances and friendships with new nations and etc. And I think over time, especially His Imperial Majesty, the Emperor discovered that there was a very good reason why Kalistan has had such difficulty with this over the years. Most other nations of the world simply cannot overcome their deep seated dislike for our nation. It doesn't matter how many events in foreign nations our monarchs attend: We simply are not going to improve Kalistan's image abroad as long as we hold an opinion on any matter and have the nerve to express it in public. So, they came to a decision: Why even bother?"

The Chancellor noted that in the past few years, Kalistan has been treated with incredible disrespect and disregard by most of the vocal nations of the world. This includes recent disrespect from nations like Istalia, who were happy to associate with Kalistan when Kalistan could give them a foot hold in Northern Seleya, or Xsampa's complete disregard of Kalistan's objections to their alliance with Amudim, after Kalistan was first and most important in not only coming to Xsampa's aid following the nuclear destruction of their capital, but then a major trading partner with Xsampa for the vast majority of this century. "That Xsampa could so easily turn their backs on a nation that has been there for them without asking for anything in return, it really stings, but also, it is an opportunity to learn, because there are no friends in international politics, only interests, and Xsampa followed their interests, even if it meant throwing their friends under the bus. Others have done that too."

She added that Kalistan is probably not going to bother attempting to repair any recent damage to Kalistan's foreign relations, as nothing anyone has said in Kalistan is inaccurate, and its time to shed some dead weight. "Its not worth it," she said. "Those nations bring nothing to the table, and expect Kalistan to bring everything, and so, its really really not worth it." She added if nations want to court Kalistan, they can come to Kaliburg for once, rather than expecting Kalistan to go to them. "And if we don't see anyone in Kaliburg, we will know that nobody is serious about courting Kalistan. The Emperor and Empress are just fine with that."

Other disappointments have also contributed to the shift in policy: "Well, to be honest, Luthori has been a fairly large disappointment for Their Imperial Majesties. Kalistan is like the guy who tries to kick the football, only to have it pulled away repeatedly. Over and over again, Kalistan is talked into attempting to improve relations with Luthori, and each time it does the things it needs to do, appoints an ambassador, reopens the embassy, and etc., Luthori will accept the credentials of the Ambassador sometimes five years later, and never dispatch an ambassador itself to Kalistan. Kalistan has not had a credentialed Ambassador from Luthori in more than 140 years, though Luthori is quick to sign alliances with nations like the Triad. I really think that Their Imperial Majesties are just giving up on Luthori and that whole project at this point."

The Chancellor herself was sanguine about the shift in foreign policy. "I think my experience as Chancellor has definitely left me with a really bad taste for internationalism in my own mouth. I very much understand the feelings of Their Imperial Majesties, and their reaction to the failures of the world community to even make a half hearted attempt to meet Kalistan even half way in its attempts to accommodate the existence of nations that are not us. Kalistan has been disappointed and frustrated with even our friends for a very long time. So much to the point that Kalistan has determined that putting any investment to work with others when there is no effort on their part to work with us, is no longer worth it. The costs to our national stature always outweigh any benefits Kalistan has ever received. So we are no longer going to make those kinds of investments. It is what it is. Kalistan is, and always will be exactly what it is. It will never change. As we have discovered over this past decade, there is no reason to attempt to be different than what we are: A Fortress in North Eastern Seleya and the home of an ageless, immortal dragon known as the Eternal Anantonese State, which possesses an institutional memory longer than the political existence of several nations combined who so freely snub us and take our good will for granted." So much for myopia.

The shift in policy will be formalized over the next month and will enter Kalistani Code as a new Strategic plan which will focus on regionalism, and protecting what Kalistan has. "Kalistan has relatively unlimited power within our own region. We do not need outposts all over the globe: Maintaining those is extremely expensive, it exposes Kalistan to threats of real enemies, and criticism of imaginary ones, and adds literally nothing to our National wealth or prestige." Part of this renewed national focus includes removing several nations that Kalistan has been attempting to court friendship with, including Xsampa and most of Dovani, Artania, and Majatra from list of places Kalistan is concerned with. "We will keep our Embassies opened in most places where they exist, but will no longer attempt to expand our number of Embassies outside of their current locations, nor court those nations for economic, political or security interests."

Meanwhile, a shift to nationalism will recommit the Empire to both Anantonese Empire interests, including affairs with nations that contain our Crown Lands and continued interest in Southern Keris. "We are committed to seeing the Kizenian war through and it is our hope that at its conclusion, the legitimate monarchy can be restored," said the Chancellor. "I know at least one nation in the region will completely oppose this, but their opinions are also not our concern. The fact is that the legitimate government of Kizenia was overthrown by a military coup, and it should be restored long before we are having discussions about whether these so called liberated zones should get anything claiming to be liberalism or republicanism in name, but opportunism in practice."

The Chancellor also said that Kalistan will recommit to Northern Seleya, though she herself will not be part of any discussions around Valruzia. "My feelings on communism are well known and widely reported. That's all I really need to say about that. I am a Conservative and an Institutionalist. Those two things are antithetical to communism. But I cannot be anything other than opposed to Communism. In an effort to not further alienate the Communists in Valruzia, Their Imperial Majesties have determined that Mr. Greene, their Foreign Minister, will be the point person for Valruzia going forward. His objections to the existence of communism are not as, strident, as my own."

The KalSiE responded to the Chancellor's comments with a downward turn. Major export based stocks lost on average 6.4% on the month, while import stocks and tech stocks trended downward by more than 3 points. The only securities that did well were in the Nationalized industries, including KALMILINCO which is still riding a post Invasion bump. Analysts say that the drop is likely temporary unless protective trade measures are enacted as part of the nationalist reorientation, but without them, this is more likely a correction based on the the new unlikeliness of an increase in foreign trade volume over regional trade volume, which investors had been anticipating at least into early 5781 before foreign tensions began increasing.

Absent new trade partners, analysts are now signaling that the market will likely enter recession territory before the end of 5782, but the recession is likely to be very moderate, with a contraction of less than 2% expected until the market rights itself. National employment guarantees and guaranteed Thriving Wage policies in Kalistan are expected to go to work to contain the recession primarily to the investing class while sparing the working class and the poor. When asked, the Chancellor said that the market was likely due for a correction, and has been drifting outside of ZPG targets for more than a year.

@TheRepublic