Foreign Policy of Kouralia

The Foreign Policy of the Royal Union of Kouralia consists of all policy decisions to advance the cause of the Royal Union of Kouralia abroad, and is carried out in the name of the Kouralian Crown, principally by the government and delegated to Her Majesty's Principal Royal Justiciar of State for the Overseas Office. While high level decisions are made by the democratically elected and politically appointed Justiciars of the Cambhyt aþe’Gyustycyaras, the foreign policy is implemented principally by Royal Adjutant Clerks of the Legatine Branch of Her Majesty's Adjutant Clerk Corps, though the Kouralian Military is also responsible for it in part, especially when a state of war exists between a nation and Kouralia.

Legatine Branch

File:Kouralian Legatine Uniform.jpg

Royal Legate to Riemaia, D.L. Smallman in 1996

The Legatine Branch of Her Majesty's Adjutant Clerk Corps is named after the traditional use of the term 'Legate' for a Kouralian Diplomat from the classical era. Not all members of the Legatine Branch are classed as Legates, and indeed only those of comparable grade to Under-Secretaries of State in the Secretariat or Directors in the Directorial career paths are afforded that title. The Legatine Branch is responsible for staffing the Overseas Office of HM Government which includes both domestic facilities and also diplomatic premises overseas. It also assigns diplomats with grades that correspond to the relative import places upon relations with that nation. The senior officials assigned to diplomatic missions in foreign countries are usually graded as follows:

• A Pro-Legate, or Legate Afore, is regarded as equivalent to an Ambassador, but is reserved for countries regarded as necessitating a particular honour.
• A Legate is regarded as equivalent to an Ambassador.
• A Vice-Legate is regarded as equivalent to an Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary, and is usually assigned to act as a either temporarily in the absence of a 'broad' Legate, or to a nation which is not as important to Kouralia.

Regardless of their grade, the Legates may occupy one of a number of positions:

• A Legate-in-Residence is a permanent, or at least long-term diplomat residing in a country and acting as the head of a mission.
• A Special Legate is a diplomat assigned to a specific task, such as to attend a uniquely convened conference of nations.
• A Legate-at-Large is a diplomat assigned to multiple countries, to a region, or to an international organisation.

Kouralian diplomatic missions are graded as Embassies internationally, however in line with Kouralian vocabulary, any diplomatic mission is refered to as a 'Legation.' They operate from diplomatic mission premises termed 'Legatine Chanceries', along with other ancillary properties spread throughout nations such as Consulates. The specific term Legatine Chancery-Garrison is used to refer to any Kouralian diplomatic mission premises which is inherently fortified and which contains a military guard force rather than a simple security detail.

Foreign Relations

Intergovernmental Organisations

Subject Organisation	Date Joined	Representative	Policy
Grynings Vägen	June 7th, 2013	Permanent Commissioner to the Crown Charter, Royal Legate Sir Chendryc Arðryne BCW	Words Words Words

Nation-States

Subject Nation	Foreign Envoy	Kouralian Envoy	Relations
Free Kingdom of Allanea		Royal Legate Name Namesson
Great Civilisation of the C'tan		Royal Legate Name Namesson
Beastling States of Crystal Spires	Ambassador Fetris Malson	Royal Legate Name Namesson	Crystal Spires's International relation with Kouralia is one of general mutual friendliness and also cooperation on trade and mutual interests of peace. There is optimism that Kouralia could be a strong ally with more contact with Crystal Spires. Kouralian assistance on natural and post-nefreedian war recovery has helped to bolster support of Kouralians and give Spires a very positive impression of the Kouralians, and their propensity to blend with Spires with their beliefs in honor and politeness also contribute to the belief that Kouralians are not normal humans, and are instead tea blooded humans. There are existing Agreements on Free Trade, a Military Alliance, Cultural Exchange, Information Exchange, Intelligence Exchange and Emergency Aid Relief
Sensible Commonwealth of the Freethinkers		Royal Legate Name Namesson
The Greater Pony Herd of Urmanian		Royal Legate Name Namesson
Theocratic Hobbiest Republic Empire		Royal Legate Name Namesson
Absolute Royal Federation of Imeriata and her Realms	Ambasadör Harkon auf Bigerhol of the foreign relation advisory	Royal Legate Sir Vy aþe’Myesco BCW	Kouralia is officially considered "decent chaps" by the absolute royal federation, if Kouralia is a high culture or not remains to be seen but most government officials and more politically active and well read subjects seems to favour Kouralian co-operation, closer ties, and even evaluation to that rank. Especially uneducated subjects generally inquires if it is a type of cornflakes, why just cornflakes remains a mystery however. All in all so does the absolute royal federation see Kouralia as trustworthy, sympathetic, but not entirely as grown up as themselves, more akin to a younger brother that require some slight guidance here and there. Preferable from a lovable mentor who's wisdom the younger brother eagerly soaks in, why the Kouralians are not entirely on board with immediate adopting Scanderan customs and political organisation is not entirely understood, and is a bit hurtful to be honest. They also seems to hang with the wrong crowd from time to time. Kouralia on the other hand considers Imeriata somewhat of a problematic older relative: there are ties, and its words are respected, but sometimes the Union would wish that the Federation would not put its foot in it so readily. Kouralia and Imeriata have cooperated on a vague and nebulous level quite frequently, but it has only been in the Spring of 2017 when any actual hard agreements have been made for cooperation and the advantage of both naions - and still no state visits have been made by either to the other.
United Kingdom of Malgrave	Ambassador Kate Smullen	Royal Pro-Legate Sir Kataryah Astorleni BCW, KB	Kouralia is commonly regarded as one of Malgrave's closest allies in the international community, and this 'special relationship' has been cemented over the years with agreements signed covering international trade, intelligence sharing and student exchange programs. In 2017 following the The Great Humiliation War Kouralian forces began training members of the Territorial Defence Force, something for which Crown Princess Elena Campbell was awarded the honourary title 'Protector of Ascension.' Kouralia's opinion of the United Kingdom is similarly high, both in terms of cultural respect and closeness of association. Kouralian priorities are traditionally in-line with Malgravean ones, and the two nations have worked together multiple times to achieve results on the international stage.
Eternal Ascendancy of Menelmacar	Tercáno Calamaethor nos Loslóriel	Royal Legate Name Namesson	The Eternal Ascendancy of Menelmacar has, while not especially close with the Kouralians, long been generally approving and fond of Kouralian policy. The two nations have rarely significantly disagreed on an issue, and the Menelmacari are generally approving of both cultural similarities and gracious concessions by Kouralia in areas like concealed carry or gravitic vehicle licensing by and for Menelmacari nationals in Kouralia. A long history exists of trade relations and joint military exercises; it has become customary for the Menelmacari representatives to such maneuvers to treat their Kouralian counterparts to drinks afterwards. The Eternal Ascendancy is explicitly interested in further upgrading relations with Kouralia. From the Kouralian perspective it has often been proposed that Kouralia and the Menelmacari are, of the three main participants in the Grynings Vagen and the three main Inter-Planetary FTL nations concerning themselves with Mystria and the Pony Lands, the most ideal of partners. Kouralia respects and appreciates Menelmacari culture and thinking, at least compared to most other nations. However there has been little effort to progress the current relationship between the two powers, in part due to the oft-criticised diplomacy of the Travers Captaincy. As part of the manifesto in the lead-up to the 2017 General Election, the Bonyas aþe’Coralyvienas did promise greater ties with and involvement in the inter-planetary diplomatic and commercial stage, and while there was no explicit mention of particular nations, popular thought is that the Menelmacari are the most amenable option.
Grand Hylian Empire of Riemaia		Royal Legate Name Namesson
Country

Diplomatic Missions

In Kouralia

While it is common for nations to operate Consulates in many cities across Kouralia, almost all Embassy Chanceries are located in the Legatine Quarter of Kurton. This is a secure district which is actually surrounded by fences, walls, gates, and other security measures designed to blend seamlessly into the urban landscape and architecture of the Kouralian capital while effectively allowing the Legatine Guard to monitor and control access to the district. Most Chanceries are four-story town buildings in a traditional style, all constructed at the same time as part of an attempt to modernise the district and add a sense of uniformity. Some however, are larger buildings or small compounds, as befits the greater importance apportioned to the nation in question. Among the larger chanceries which are located outside the Legatine Quarter are the Imerian, the C'tani, Spirean, and Coalition of Northern States'.

Abroad

Abroad the average Kouralian legation will be based in a town-house sized building, though large. It will usually contain a garage, office-space for staffers, personal offices for senior figures in the legation, and space for security, catering, and service staff. Some chanceries may contain a personal apartment for the Legate-in-Residence, but that depends on local construction. Kouralia endeavours to ensure that all chanceries follow a similar construction and decoration scheme, so that no matter where a Kouralian citizen finds themselves in the world there is always an element of reassuringly familiar home nearby. Security at Kouralian Chanceries is provided by the Legatine Guard, a unique regiment of the Kouralian military which is not aligned with any of the three services. They can provide security details all the way up to company-sized formations akin to the National Air Force's Air-Ground Auxiliary.

Usually a Kouralian Legation will, at least, have the following figures in its staff:

• Chief of Mission - synonymous with Legate-in-Residence.
• Deputy Chief of Mission - The second senior-most diplomat in the mission, acting as a deputy, chief of staff, and de facto ombudsman.
• Consul - Responsible for providing consular services to citizens of Kouralia and or citizens of the host nation, and promoting relations. May not be the Consul-General, if the Consulate-General is located on a different premises.
• Passport Control Officer - Responsible for supervising distribution of passports and other official identification documents abroad.
• Military Commissioner - An expert, senior military officer assigned to the embassy to advise the Legate, liaise with the host military, and gather intelligence. Can also be assisted by a Deputy, a Naval Commissioner, and an Air Commissioner in large legations.
• Trade Commissioner - Responsible for promoting free-trade and export agreements.
• Agricultural Commissioner - Responsible for reporting on agricultural, environmental, and other matters.
• Cultural Commissioner - Responsible for promoting the culture of Kouralia to the host nation.
• Scientific Commissioner - Responsible for advising the Legate on scientific matters, and for facilitating scientific cooperation abroad.