Foreign relations of Belmonte

Belmonte is one of the most important political and economic powers of Asteria, having a strong influence over decision-making in the region. The Secretary of Foreign Affairs is responsible for leading Belmontese diplomatic efforts throughout the world, with its foreign policy reflecting Belmonte's position on the international stage as it is centred around core national interests such as national security, anti-terrorism and economic multilateralism while using a soft power approach.

Belmonte is considered to be a regional and middle power and is closely aligned with Halland and the Euclean Community on a variety of issues whilst having positive relations with the majority of nations in the world, especially on the areas of economic cooperation and finances.

International organization memberships

Organization	Ambassador to	Joined
Community of Nations	Michel Lemos	1935
Asteria Inferior Common Market	César Krampf	1992
International Council for Democracy	Teresa Rodrigues	1938
International Trade Organization	Filipe Gusmão	1995
Global Institute for Fiscal Affairs	Marcos Braga	2001

Belmontese missions abroad

International organizations

• Community of Nations
  Kesselbourg City: Permanent mission
• Asterian Common Market
  San Pietro: Permanent mission
• International Council for Democracy
  Morwall: Permanent mission
• International Trade Organization
  Spálgleann: Permanent mission
• Global Institute for Fiscal Affairs
  Keisi: Permanent mission

Policy positions

Climate change

Former premier Rita Maurino talking about cimate change at an economic conference in Guanabara in 2017.

Mariranan refugees in a temporary refugee accommodation in Pinheiros in 2016.

Former Belmontese premier Ludovico Rosa (left) meeting with Chistovodian president Viktor Martynenko (right).

The first mention of climate change from the Belmontese government came in 1988, during the premiership of Félix Bragança, in which was declared that the country "should, in the next years, find ways to reduce its contribution towards climate change and environmental degradation." Since then, every government supported further international cooperation to stop climate change, with Belmonte itself being the place for several climate conferences to deal with the issue.

Refugees and asylum-seekers

Main article: Immigration to Belmonte

Belmonte received almost four million immigrants throughout its history, from colonial times to the present day. Many of these immigrants came from Euclean countries, the majority of them being Iustians, Auratians, Poveglians, Vespasians, Weranians, Caldish and, to some lesser extent, Gaullicans, Hennish and Estmerish. There also were substantial immigrant groups from Senria and Xiaodong, as well as Bahian peoples who were forcefully emigrated from their continent to become slaves. Given Belmonte's multicultural and miscegenated people, there is no immigration barriers or quotas whilst the law accepts any refugees and asylum-seekers that flees its country of origin due to persecution on account of its colour, religion or ethnicity, with said refugees being able to apply for Belmontese citizenship.

Premier Lourenço Bittencourt with Hallandic president ??? at Avelon in ???. During his permiership, Halland became one of the most important partners of Belmonte.

With the refugee crisis caused after the outbreak of the Mariranan Civil War, circa fifty thousand people sought asylum in Belmontese soil.

Mariranan Civil War

Main article: Mariranan Civil War

Premier Rosa declared in 2013 that his government supported a "quick end to the conflict and the resolution of all problems in a peaceful manner." After Maurino's victory in 2015, Belmonte, through foreign secretary Fonseca, announced the support of the Mariranan National Council against the federal government, a position which remains today.

Tsabaran Civil War

Main article: Tsabaran Civil War

After the outbreak of sectarian conflict in Tsabara, the Secretary of Foreign Affairs condemned the widespread violence and religious fundamentalism on both sides, supporting the federal government and the return of the confessionalist democratic system.

Halland

Halland is considered to be Belmonte's principal ally and commercial partner, with the alliance being officially created on the aftermath of the Great War in 1935. During the conflict, the Hallandic Armed Forces heavily supported both the Belmontese government located at its national redoubt and the Belmontese People's Front in occupied areas, with the alliance expanding to other areas such as trade, finances, military and foreign policy. The friendship reached its height in the 60s, during the premiership of Lourenço Bittencourt, in which Belmonte became totally aligned with Hallandic interests.

It was only in the 80s, with the election of Félix Bragança, that Belmonte started to have its independent foreign policy, despite remaining very aligned with Halland. Currently, both countries have extremely positive relations that hold significant influence over Asterian Inferior geopolitics, avoiding a Satucin-based political hegemony in the region.

Maracao

As the sole independent Iustian-speaking country in the world after Belmonte, Maracao had relatively positive relations during the 19th and early-20th centuries, albeit a very apathetic one. This was immediately changed after the Liberação and the establishment of a socialist state on the island, with Belmonte, at the time under the Sword's Republic, cutting all forms of relationship and aligning with other anti-Maracan countries in the Arucian. The country also supported, alongside Halland and Nuxica, the Movimento Azul and their unsuccessful 1980 coup d'état attempt. It was only in the 90s that relations started to normalize, a process which remains very behind even in modern times.

Chistovodia

Belmontese-Chistovodian relations always were cold due to its socialist regime. However, a normalization of relations between both countries has been underway since the 90s as well, especially under the areas of trade and scientific cooperation.

See also

Belmonte

Politics of Belmonte