Leiden Protocols

Leiden Protocols
Motto: "Si vis pacem, para bellum"
Administrative center	Leiden
Official languages	Anglian Dutch Khalistani Shinasthana
Type	Economic and military alliance
Membership	New Tyran Khalistan Bataviae Camia Vangala
Leaders
• Secretary General	Willem Hart
Establishment
• Leiden Convention	2023
Population
• 2023 estimate	590,880,000
GDP (PPP)	2023 estimate
• Total	$7.106 trillion
• Per capita	$12,026.13
GDP (nominal)	2023 estimate
• Total	$7.465 trillion
• Per capita	$7,465.17
Currency	No common currency

The Leiden Protocols (LP), informally known as the 'Little Entente', is a multinational alliance and trade bloc founded by the nations of Anglia and Lechernt and Bataviae, with Camia, Khalistan and Vangala joining later. Established in the aftermath of the One Month War, the Leiden Protocols consists of former nations of the Entente Cordiale (EC) who broke off from the alliance after the EC suffered significant losses in the war against the Namhae Front.

The governments of Anglia and Lechernt, and the Kingdom of Bataviae felt that the poor cooperation between EC member states during the brief conflict was the reason many avoidable casualties were suffered. Because of this, the two nations announced they would break away from the EC. Within four months of the formation of the Leiden Protocols, Camia announced its surprise switch to it, citing difficulties it foresees in international politics after the stalemate of the One Month War and the compromised position of the Entente Cordiale (in the locality of the Meh Sea) after the exit of A&L and Bataviae.

Membership

Anglia and Lechernt

The Kingdom of Anglia and Lechernt joined the Entente Cordiale after the Pan-Septentrion War, as King Robert II thought that bringing A&L into the alliance could economically benefit the nation and assist with post-war recovery. King Robert II also felt that A&L joining the Entente could help repair diplomatic relations with Sieuxerr. During the PSW, Prime Minister David Percival conspired with disgruntled Crown Army generals to oust the monarchy and take complete control of parliament, then enact a planned invasion of Sieuxerr as a bargaining ploy to negotiate with the Casaterran Axis powers, to leave the Crown Empire and A&L alone.

Amidst the PSW, tensions arose between A&L and Sieuxerr regarding the world's first nuclear weapon program, led by scientists from Banbha and Anglia. Prominent scientific figures in Sieuxerr and Bataviae who specialized in nuclear theory were requested by A&L to aid in the nuclear bomb's development in exchange for funds and equipment. Due to the highly classified nature of the program, even in the highest levels of government, the scientists were working under restrictive conditions to avoid the possibility of any leaks to the Axis Powers. Some Sieuxerrian scientists were even accused of being enemy collaborators and were detained to safeguard the program. This and other incidents slowly started a series of events that ultimately led to the Sieuxerr-Tyrannian Conflict of 1978. A&L would leave the Entente soon after the end of the conflict but would rejoin the alliance in the late 90s as diplomatic relations between the governments of A&L and Sieuxerr were restored.

However, the government of A&L would be increasingly vocal about EC operations and even condemned the Sylvan annexation of Isla Diamante during the Innominadan Crisis. Prime Minister Johnathan Holt saw it as a dangerous escalation around the critical Strait of Porticullia, posing a major threat to global trade.

Khalistan

Since it borders the strategically important Portcullia Strait, Khalistan has always been in between warring empires and nations as they fight over control of the strait. When the OMN started, the NF launched a massive surprise attack on RAF, Royal Navy, and Khalistani air force bases, causing significant damage and loss of life. It was also attacked on two fronts by Azbekistan and Virshahr, as well as being involved in the defence of Naseristan. Both A&L and Khalistan felt that the joint training operations were ill advised and could potentially provoke the NF into an armed response. Outraged that its warnings fell on deaf ears, Khalistan ended its cooperation with the EC and requested the removal of EC forces from its territory, but did offer to reimburse the nations of Gothia and Sieuxerr for munitions spent in the war.

Enlargement and observer states

Vangala

Since the rapid collapse of Naseristani forces in the OMN, the governments of Vangala felt that its borders were increasingly threatened by the NF states of Virshahr and the instability of Naseristan. After the formation of the Leiden Protocols, the Vangalan government asked for security assurance from both Khalistan and A&L, to which Vangala already has close ties, that it'd be defended should it be attacked, and made a formal request to join LP. Which was quickly ratified and Vangala became the 4th member of the alliance bloc.

Camia

Four months after the creation of the Leiden Protocols, Camia made a surprise decision to cut its ties to EC and made a request to join LP. Not willing to turn down an allied nation, Camia was accepted into the LP, but under a few conditions. Due to the high tensions Camia has with HC that haven't been resolved, the country isn't currently under collective defence until it can resolve the diplomatic issues it currently has with its neighbors. If Camia is attacked unprovoked, however, A&L has promised to defend her sovereignty.

Federated Fire Territories

Since the construction of its naval base in Kolodoria, Menghe has been able to deploy SSGNs quickly into the Crimson Sea and launch attacks on the EC country's mainland. Which it demonstrated in the OMN, causing significant damage to several RAF bases and even attacking Southern Cross central command near Leiden. A retaliation strike was planned to take out the naval base but was talked down by diplomats from the Fire Territories and Banbha. The governments of Anglia and Lechernt and the Fire Territories have come to a mutual understanding that the Namhae Front's expansion and influence are a growing concern, especially as the NF feels able to launch attacks on other states to achieve its geopolitical goals. Even after A&L's split from EC, it still shares security concerns with the remaining EC members. Fyreland requested to become an observer of the Leiden Protocols to help facilitate post-split EC-LP collaboration.

The principal drivers for Fyr's LP observer status are:

• Expanded Menghean influence and willingness to resort to aggression against peer states to achieve geopolitical goals.
• The litany of states that either explicitly or tacitly support the Namhae Front's actions through means of materiel, policy, or idle empowerment.
• A perceived need to counter NF's western expansion passively without increased defence commitments, principally through diplomacy, intelligence sharing, posturing, and reframed geopolitical goals.
• An aim to place the nation as a bridge between cooperative, like-minded nations, emphasising saving existing geopolitical structures from malign influence.

Partnerships and foreign relations

Banbha

Main article: Anglo-Banbhan Alliance

While the United Kingdom of Anglia and Lechernt has always maintained cordial relations with Banbha and cooperate on some defence and security matters, there was not an official defence treaty signed between the two nations. Following A&L's exit from the Entente, Prime Minister Ashar Matharu visited Avallone on a state visit to pledge deeper cooperation across the board and to make joint commitments on research and development, operational matters, and counter terrorism. Follow up meetings between Avallone and Leiden continued for several months before the Anglo-Banbhan Alliance was fully signed.

See also

• Namhae Front
• Septentrion