Isla Diamante
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Isla Diamante, officially the Republic of Isla Diamante (Sylvan: Republica de Isla Diamante) is an island country in Septentrion. It exists in a special commonwealth status under Sylva, which occupied the island in 2014, precipitating the Innominadan Crisis. The island is also claimed by Argentstan, which inherited the Republic of Innominada's territorial claim upon seceding, and by the People's Republic of Innominada. It is surrounded by the South Menghe Sea, and sits off the coast of Argentstan.
When Innominada descended into civil war in March 2014, the loss of state control, the collapse of the economy, and the need to finance military operations led several rebel groups to resort to piracy around the Strait of Portcullia, one of Septentrion's most active shipping routes. In an effort to curtail piracy and gain a new naval base in the region, Sylva sent marines to occupy the island on August 20th, setting off a major confrontation with Menghe. As part of an agreement to de-escalate the situation, Sylva agreed to run Isla Diamante as an independent commonwealth territory for five years, then return it to sovereign Innominadan control. This deadline passed without a decision in September 2019, escalating tensions on the Innominadan peninsula.
Name
History
Government and politics
Military
Reunification debate
As part of the post-crisis agreement intended to stave off war, Sylva agreed to administer Isla Diamante as an independent commonwealth territory, rather than annexing it as Sylvan territory, as originally intended. The agreement also stated that after five years, Isla Diamante would revert to Innominadan mainland control, if by that time the civil war was over.
This agreement was not updated following the next last-minute agreement, between Menghe and Maverica, dividing Innominada into two occupation zones. As such, it does not state which Innominadan government should inherit the island when its commonwealth status expires. The People's Republic of Innominada claims descent from Innominada's prewar government, but is also most distant, lacking a coast on the South Menghe Sea. The Republic of Innominada claimed the island until 2018, but ceded this claim to Argentstan, which is closest to the island. Argentstan is geographically closest to the island, and has asserted its claim most aggressively, but the text of the agreement states that the island should be returned to an Innominadan government and Argentstan does not claim descent from Innominada and other treaties.
Sylva, as a member of the Entente Cordiale, is hostile to Menghe, Argentstan, and the RoI, and has argued that the text of the agreement rules out transferring the island to Argentstan. Isla Diamante's government, installed by Sylva and predominantly Creole, backs this stance, and has recently pushed for indefinite independence. These decisions have provoked opposition from the general public, which is predominantly Argentan and since 2018 has supported union with Argentstan. Both Menghe and Argentstan have been accused of smuggling arms and explosives to the island and inciting violence there, a charge which their governments deny.