Aquitayne-Blackhelm Confederacy relations

Aquitayne-Blackhelm Confederacy relations

Aquitayne	Blackhelm Confederacy
Diplomatic mission
Confederate Embassy, Telora	Aquitaynian Embassy, Paradise City
Envoy
Ambassador Tiberius Greycloak	Ambassador Marius Marzei

Relations between the Constitutional Monarchy of Aquitayne and the Blackhelm Confederacy (formerly the Empire of Exponent) have ranged from military opponents to close allies since the early 1400's. The Empire of Exponent famously backed the Kon'rei dynasty during the War of the White Rose in 1647, which effectively lead to Aquitayne becoming a puppet state of the Exponent. Roughly 100 years later, Aquitayne would declare its independence from the Empire, fighting a successful revolutionary war. Relations between the two nations largely stagnated in the aftermath of the war, with much of the Kon'rei dynasty fleeing to Hesperidesia to escape persecution from the new King. A general amnesty was declared roughly 5 years after the end of the war, resulting in much of the Aquitaynian aristocracy to return to Lorecia. Aquitayne fought the Empire of Exponent again during the Great Astyrian War, but afterward relations began improving dramatically.

In 1956, Aquitayne became a founding member of the EATA, and remained a member until its departure in 1982 to form the United Kingdom with Symphonia. Relations post-withdrawal largely soured through the rest of the 20th century and into the early 21st century, with Aquitayne seeing itself as a rising geopolitical power. Tensions came to a head during the Greater Insula Feran Conflict, though hostilities never broke out directly and largely subsided after an agreement was made to form a joint operational command to ensure the orderly rebuilding of what is now New Pangus.

In recent years through the 2020's, Aquitayne and the Blackhelm Confederacy's relations have improved dramatically. They share a significant history, language and culture in many areas of Aquitayne due to its colonial past. Most recently, Aquitayne assisted the EATA in peacekeeping operations in Lorecia against Belkan aggression into Arstotska.

History

War of the White Rose

Main article: War of the White Rose

Aquitaynian Independence

Main article: Aquitaynian War of Independence

Claims to Castineos

See also: Aquitanius Province and Castineos

2011 Embassy attack

Main article: 2011 Aquitaynian embassy attack

Insula Fera

Main article: Greater Insula Feran Conflict

Western Tundra crisis

Main article: Attempted annexation of the Western Tundra

Trade, investment and the economy

Special Export License

In 2022, at the request of Aquitayne's foremost arms manufacturer, Freyport Armory, a special export license was granted by the Foreign Office to allow the controlled export of some sensitive materials to the Blackhelm Confederacy. Mainly, Freyport Armory aimed to collaborate with Exodius, a Confederate car manufacturer to provide armor options for commercial sale. The public were strongly opposed to this after the fact, citing human rights violations in the Confederacy and their aggressive, interventionist foreign policies as reasons to avoid doing business with the nation, especially in the defense sector. The Minister of State for Development and Hesperidesia, who oversees economic development and trade interests for Aquitayne on the continent, cited improving human rights indexes and development scores as the basis for granting the special export license. Minister Akimoto stated at a press conference following the approval of the export license, that "its time to end the idea that Hesperidesia is a closed-market to Aquitayne because of political sabre-rattling that doesn't amount to tangible problems."

Diplomacy

Anti-piracy operations

Main article: LCNAVFOR

Diplomats

The Aquitaynian Foreign Office retains two individuals to work directly with the Confederacy on a wide range of issues. Firstly, the Minister of State for Development and Hesperidesia represents Aquitaynian investment and development interests in and around Astyria, but specifically Hesperidesia. This includes international finance, health initiatives, humanitarian and migration assistance. Additionally, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State to ATO and EATA nations represents the King and government's interests directly with the EATA council, which is mainly lead by the Confederacy. The Under-Secretary resides at the Aquitaynian Embassy in Paradise City for six months out of every other year.