Foreign Policy of the AFN

The foreign policy of the Asian Federation of Nations is carried out by the order of the Celestial Throne of the Empire of Symphonia, the Imperial Senate, the Congress of the Federation, and the Ministry of International Relations. The Celestial Throne has traditionally been the locus of power regarding foreign affairs, however this role has gradually been delegated to roles by the imperial aristocracy represented in the Imperial Senate as well as delegates in the Congress. The Ministry of International Relations is the oldest government ministry, giving it disproportionate power and autonomy in relation to other bureaucratic bodies.

Traditionally, foreign policy can be exercised by either house of the legislature or by unilateral agreement from the Celestial Throne. Given the self-restraint by the Imperial Family regarding its potential stranglehold over foreign affairs, the Imperial Senate has been the primary body to concern itself with foreign affairs, with the Congress focusing on domestic matters between the six AFN member states. It is the role of the Ministry of International Relations to assign ambassadors to countries deemed directly in contact with the AFN and to send communiques to nations deemed too far to warrant direct diplomatic communications, and it is also their responsibility to advise the Privy Council, the Prime Minister's Cabinet, and the Imperial Senate on matters regarding foreign policy.

The official policy of the Asian Federation of Nations is to expand the economic influence of AFN businesses and enterprise abroad, and to protect the peace and welfare of the nations and people of Astyria. Political isolation has been a hallmark of the post-Conflict government, and the AFN has been seen as being hesitant when confronted with international crisis's. However, political isolation is not a sign of martial inadequacy, and the Celestial Crown and the Imperial Senate have repeatedly been at odds regarding the use of hard power as part of foreign policy.

Foreign Policy Aims

The stated aim of the foreign policy of Symphonia is to "ensure the political independence and economic growth of the AFN" as well as promote "peace and prosperity to the peoples of Astyria and beyond". AFN diplomats are explicitly instructed to avoid entangling the nation in foreign affairs where wars and conflict may occur. Within the Imperial Senate and the Congress, the cross-floor Committee on International Relations has traditionally been under the control of political factions that oppose foreign intervention altogether, despite contrary views from other members of the legislature. They are among many cynics who note that the ambiguous nature of the foreign policy statements means that the AFN can at any time act in ways completely opposite of set precedent.

In such cases, the twisting of AFN foreign policy aims can be apparent, for example, the declaration of war on Greater Evil Imperial Japanese Dystopia (GEIJD) in the Great Asian War and the backing of the fascist Great Korean Empire against the Mugen Tengoku. In such cases, expansionist ideals made the GEIJD and the GKE formal members of the AFN, though in reality such association is avoided by both parties.

Multilateral Relations

The Asian Federation of Nations is currently a member of a few multiple multilateral organizations across Astyria and the rest of the world. Since the Great Asian War, the AFN has been highly reluctant to entangle itself in international incidents outside of its immediate region and does not participate in international peacekeeping bodies outside of Astyria.

Below is a list of the multilateral organizations that the AFN currently belongs to:

Logo	Organisation Name	AFN Representative	Member States	Current Role	Monetary Support
File:E10con.png	E10 Council of Nations	Alexander Wu	File:Lexmarkflag.jpg Valle Crucis Aquitayne Protectorate of Cadenza File:Symphonia.png Symphonia Blackhelm Confederacy Nikolia Template:Country data Neu Engollon Neu Engollon Template:Country data GHawkins GHawkins File:Jernak.png Jenrak Aurora Confederacy	The Asian Federation of Nations works closely with the Constitutional Monarchy of Aquitayne regarding the internal policies of this body. Due to being a member of the United Kingdom, this duo vote in the Council means that the UK has the ability to take a decisive issue regarding any issue. A loss or addition of two votes is what may make or break any sort of Council legislation. Hence, gthe potential political power of the AFN is vast.	N/A

Alliances

United Kingdom

File:SymphoniaUK.png

Map of the United Kingdom.

The Asian Federation of Nations is the sister state of the Constitutional Monarchy of Aquitayne, the only other member of the United Kingdom. The United Kingdom is one of the most prominent entities in central-eastern Astyria, and often opposes the Eastern Astyrian Trade Organisation in foreign policy aims and actions across the Mare Ferum and especially Insula Fera.

The United Kingdom was formed as a result of the marriage of Symphonian Empress Seondeok vi Kirmaashi to Jacob von Reich of Aquitayne, resulting in Symphonia's junior status in a marriage alliance with Aquitayne. Because of crucial Aquitaynian support during the Seong-Kiramashi Conflict, the marriage and subsequent birth of princes Akatsuki and Ryou marked the growing levels of cooperation and coordination between the two states. Trade relations, military communications, nuclear weapons policy, foreign policy have all been closely aligned with each other, leading some analysts to consider the AFN and Aquitayne to be in a "Special Relationship".

Bilateral Relations

The Asian Federation of Nation currently holds bilateral relations with numerous countries around the world.

Aquitayne

Numerous analysts, both foreign and domestic, consider the alliance with Aquitayne as the single most important relationship that Symphonia and the rest of the AFN can have. Aquitayne and Symphonia are major trade partners and the AFN imports many of its needs and resources from Aquitayne. The level of trust between both nations is extremely high and there have been little to no incidents that have driven them apart. While both the Monarchy and the Asian Federation maintain close relationships with many other nations around the world, the level of cooperation in military planning, execution of military operations, nuclear weapons technology, and intelligence sharing with each other has been described as "unparalleled" among major powers throughout the 20th and early 21st century.

ViZion

The bilateral relationship between the AFN and ViZion is of notable importance to Symphonia. While in the past there have been calls for anti-trust laws to be enacted against ViZion's megaconglomerates, this has not widely effected the trade and economic relationship between the neighbors. However, the interconnectedness of the Symphonian economy to the ViZionese economy is paramount importance due to the AFN's dependence on trade to sustain economic growth. A collapse in trade as a result of continuing economic vagaries in ViZion would trigger market shocks across a large number of industries in the AFN, something which the AFN has vigorously tried to avoid by encouraging the growth of other import markets.

Yellow Star Republic

Currently, the bilateral relationship between the AFN and the Yellow Star Republic is a chilly. In part to keeping with diplomatic isolation, the AFN has remained neutral to the current conflict over Plättesian Adler, in an effort to not polarize themselves between the Eastern Astyrian Trade Organisation and the Astyrian Trade Organisation. In addition, the AFN rejects the communist ideology of the Republic, and has repeatedly denounced its actions as being both aggressive and destabilizing.

Terre des Gaulles

The AFN traditionally does not consider diplomatic missions far outside of the Mare Ferum as being important enough to warrant official interest. However, investigations regarding the collapse of the former Imperial Spartanian Empire yielded information suggesting that the government of Terre des Gaulles as part of the supply chain that helped the Herald terrorist organization in overthrowing the government. The AFN has not fully decided on a course of action regarding this information, however given the proximity of the incidents on Insula Fera, future action may be decided upon.

Dangish Empire

The current bilateral relationship between the AFN and the Dangish Empire is increasingly complex and difficult to understand. Traditionally, both nations share similar ideas and opinions due to part mutual support in organizations like the Polaris Initiative, but due to a recent diplomatic impasse over the Humanitarian Intervention in Pangus in Insula Fera, where the Eastern Astyrian Trade Organisation has implemented {[wpl|no fly zone|no fly zones}} and inserted observers to the process of self-determination over the sovereign states of Pangus and Prudenesia, relations have broken down to where the Imperial Senate passed a vote to for a declaration of war that was shot down in the Congress.

The Dangish Empire, following the Osbourne Doctrine, issued an ultimatum to United Kingdom forces which had begun operations in Insula Fera that if they did not withdrawal a state of war would exist between the two nations. Eventually the ultimatum was amended and the current agreement of Dangish military resources to the region, including an aircraft carrier and three battleships, was agreed on. The Asian Federation of Nations was infuriated by the no-fly zone imposed over the Pangus-Stretta Sea, where the 7th Fleet and the AFN's northern aircraft carrier fleet is located. While the validity of that and the response of the Dangish monarch cannot be ascertained completely, the situation has brought both the United Kingdom and the Eastern Astyrian Trade Organisation to the brink of open war.

The Asian Federation of Nations considers the situation extremely sensitive, due to the proximity of the Dangish territory of Varrokia and the Confederate homeland in relation to Symphonian trade routes and the geographic proximity to the Insulae Caelestis.

Pangus and Prudensia

The AFN considers the successor states of the former Imperial Spartanian Empire as failed states due to the ongoing chaos and violence pervading the territories as a result of Heraldic and paramilitary actions. United Kingdom intervention was petitioned by Prime Minister Samuel von Reich, King of Aquitayne, and was agreed to after considerable deliberation by the Imperial Senate and the Federation Congress.

Romberg

The bilateral relations between the AFN and Romberg are extremely good. The two states are members of the International Coalition for Expansion, an alliance of democracies committed to forcibly opposing tyranny and dictatorships. The two nations operate in terms of geopolitical cooperation, especially with ongoing actions to unite the aristocracy of Astyria.

Blackhelm Confederacy

The bilateral relationship between the AFN and the Blackhelm Confederacy began with conflict over discovered oil deposits in the nation of Castigonia. Under the leadership of Emperor Ryushu vi Kiramashi and the Imperial Federation, Symphonian businesses were interested in acquiring majority rights over the oil field as well as expanding Symphonian influence over the nation of Castigonia. However, Griffencrest Corporation and the Corporate Alliance was likewise interested in acquiring the oil field as well. The use of force by Griffencrest Corporation led to a Symphonian Imperial Denounication and intervention in favor of the Castigonians. The Battle of Eaglewood City, the Castigonian capital, resulted in a definitive Symphonian defeat despite a successful earlier attack.

Since then, political connections between both states have been strained at best and the Imperial Senate has been keen on restoring the honor of the Empire by fighting once more, something which the Singh Ministry and Empress Seondeok have stringently opposed.

This history is largely believed to be the root of the current divide in AFN-Confederate relations. Due to the recent events in Insula Fera, AFN-Confederate relations have dropped to an all-time low, especially given the level of distrust between the two states and their history. With the Confederacy being the leader of the Eastern Astyrian Trade Organisation, an even further level of distrust and distaste is seen between the AFN and the Confederacy. Analysts agree it is unforeseeable the bilateral relationship between the Blackhelm Confederacy and the AFN will shift any time soon.