The Fake War

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The Fake War
Part of Shiro-Benacian War, Recession of 1737
A Shirerithian cargo vessel, the IRS Gertrude, escapes the Port of Punta Santiago as it is being shot at by the Federal Navy at the start of the Fake War; XV.1737 AN.
Date XV.1737 AN - Location Territorial waters of Nouvelle Alexandrie and Natopia Status Active letters of marque and reprisal
Belligerents
Debt Collection Coalition:  Nouvelle Alexandrie  Natopia Licensed privateers	Shireroth
Strength
Unknown number of licensed privateers	Merchant fleet (size unknown)
Casualties and losses
None reported	No direct engagements Economic losses from trade disruption

The Fake War is an ongoing naval interdiction campaign initiated in late 1737 AN by Nouvelle Alexandrie and Natopia against Shireroth in response to Shireroth's default on over ₢25 billion in sovereign debt obligations. The campaign, officially designated as Operation Debt Collector, primarily employs legal and diplomatic pressure tactics through the issuance of coordinated letters of marque and reprisal to private military contractors and licensed privateers. These letters authorize the interdiction and seizure of Shirerithian merchant vessels and cargo within New Alexandrian and Natopian territorial waters as compensation for the defaulted debt. The campaign represents one of the first uses of letters of marque in sovereign debt enforcement for Nouvelle Alexandrie and Natopia, marking a significant development in financial diplomacy.

As of IV.1738 AN, the operation has produced mixed results, as Shirerithian commercial vessels have opted to avoid New Alexandrian and Natopian waters rather than risk potential interdiction. While this risk-avoidance behavior by Shirerithian shipping interests has effectively created a self-imposed exclusion zone, it has also meant that no vessels have been seized and no debt recovery has been achieved through the campaign. The absence of direct naval engagements, combined with the campaign's focus on commercial rather than military targets, has led some observers to dub it the "Fake War", a conflict characterized more by its economic and diplomatic symbolism than by either military operations or successful debt recovery. Critics argue that the campaign's inability to capture any Shirerithian assets has rendered it largely ineffective at achieving its primary goal of debt compensation.

See also

• Mango Anarchy
• Shiro-Benacian War
• Recession of 1737