1) Other than Lazarus, our only current treaty partner, what region or group do you believe is our most valuable diplomatic partner and why?
2) Recently, The South Pacific announced that they would no longer utilize their embassies in other regions, instead posting news and information only on their own forum and NationStates Gameplay, as posted here. What are your thoughts on the importance or unimportance of forum embassies? Additionally to Jarl of Foreign Affairs candidates, what are some ideas you have to make embassies with our region more valuable, if you have any plans at all?
3) What specific things would you change about the way Wintreath conducts foreign affairs if you could?
4) Perhaps the most relevant foreign affairs issue which Wintreath has taken a stance on is the December 2013 coup of Osiris and the subsequent rise of the "Osiris Fraternal Order", our reaction to which is noted in Royal Decree 002. Noting the embassy request recently received from that region, what are your thoughts on the current state of non-affairs between Wintreath and the "Osiris Fraternal Order"?
5) Obviously, both the Jarl of Foreign affairs and the Underhusen have considerable input on the treaties with Wintreath enters into. What are some factors that would cause you to absolutely come out against any particular treaty?
Wintermoot, firstly, I'd like to thank you to hosting this debate. I will gladly answer these first set of questions before proceeding further.
1. I believe we should seek ties with The East Pacific as well as Spiritus. While Spiritus has some common things with us, we can learn from each other and should repair our ties in that we have similar beliefs about certain things, even if we disagreed on other matters. With The East Pacific, we have a strong feeder region that is known for it's open-mindedness, active participants, strong RP, and now recently an independent defender army. With all these things, Wintreath would stand to gain from having TEP as a good diplomatic partner and ally.
2. I believe forum embassies are important. It's a shame The South Pacific had to resort to such drastic measures because they didn't want to do all the work updating their embassies. Much of the Gameplay area are full of trolls and people who will blow things up out of proportion - in short, drama-mongers. In forum embassies, regions actually use the ambassadors to take the time to update the regions we have diplomatic ties with as to what's going on, and our ambassadors should also be there to relay any concerns or questions those regions may have, including requests for diplomatic talks about something. Having forum embassies is a good tool to have, and yes it does require an active diplomatic corps. I feel that TSP should have worked to ensure they had an active diplomatic corps rather than shutting it down entirely. Not everyone wants to read the NS forums - especially the Gameplay area, and I think having our ambassadors open up a office / question thread in our embassies also helps to show we care about the regions we have ties with, and want to make sure our ambassador is available to them.
3. I would encourage our ambassadors to do a monthly or some occasional question thread, where any concerns or questions other regions may have, can be answered in our embassy, where we get to know our regions we have ties with, and they get to know us better
4. I oppose any embassy request with Osiris under the "OFO" and I support Royal Decree 2. Given recent events, they have not made their case as to why we should have diplomatic ties with them or recognise their region. They still seem to have an attitude of scapegoating defenders, as what was done recently with Cameron Romefeller. I would deny their request.
5. I would come out against any treaty where it puts us in an entangling alliance that does not benefit Wintreath, and only makes Wintreath look bad by getting involved in some form of inter-regional drama. We are a vibrant region and we should only engage in treaty discussions with regions that will benefit us in a positive manner, or something mutually beneficially.