Foreign affairs of Natopia

The Coat of Arms of the Court of the Calm Waters

The foreign affairs of Natopia are formally handled by the Natopian emperor, although in practice they are carried out by the Court of the Calm Waters. See also the Visa policy of Natopia.

Overview

Natopia's foreign policy is centered around support of its close and long-term allies, securing trade deals, supporting human (or non-human sentient lifeforms) rights, containment of rogue nations, interpersonal alliances developed by the House of Waffel-Paine, supporting the mission of the Micras Treaty Organization, and supporting the Raspur Pact.

Traditionally, Natopia has always extended de facto recognition to all members of MCS. This remains true except for those nations deemed to be irredeemably lost and unworthy of contact.

Court of the Calm Waters

Natopia's Secretary for Foreign Affairs serves as an official of the Imperial Court of Natopia as Chamberlain of the Court of the Calm Waters. As a member of the Emperor's court, the Secretary is under the full command of an Imperial decree, however the Emperor delegates most foreign policy decisions to the Secretary, who is often an expert in the field of diplomacy and international relations. The current Foreign Secretary, Dr. Mishti Lohani, holds advanced degrees in economics and geography, and a Ph. D. in Political Science.

List of foreign missions

Country	City	Status	Head of mission	Consulates-General	Consulates	Notes
Raspur Pact	Lindström	Permanent mission	Ursula Brandt-Heller, 3rd Baroness Brandt (1673 AN)	Raspur
Micras Treaty Organization		Permanent mission	Marco Lungo (1668 AN)			Natopian delegate and Secretary General
Shireroth	Shirekeep	Embassy
Unified Governorates	Merensk	Embassy
Drak-Modan	Drakorda	Embassy	George Ziff, 5th Baron Ziff (1685 AN)	Dracoheim, Modan Hamlet	Lyhigh
Elwynn	Eliria	Embassy		Elijah's Rest, Kingsgate, Ardashirshahr	Smjorkyr, Mishalan, Tsofnhofn
Alduria-Wechua	Cardenas	Embassy	Katrina Scott, 4th Baroness Abmey (1686 AN)	Punta Santiago, Parap	Alkhiva, Roanne, Behaurnais, Norvind
Constancia	Astérapolis	Embassy		Raspur
Floria	Northcliff	Embassy
Ransenar	Goldfield	Embassy		Goldshire Hamlet	Demonsfall
Sanama	Sanama City	Embassy

Foreign Relations of Natopia

The Foreign Secretary of the Bovic Empire is open to discussing visa travel policies with all nations. Natopia prides itself on its welcoming and open culture and would be delighted to consider reciprocal relaxed visa policies.

Country	Outlook	Visa requirement	Notes
Arbor	Negative	Travel prohibited	Reluctance to leave the Vanic Web has forever tainted the ruler and his domains.
Alduria-Wechua	Positive	Freedom of movement	Raspur Pact. Natopia and Alduria are close trade partners. Natopia is Alduria's largest trade partner, providing most of Alduria's key imports of food, water, clothing, medicine, and many other important goods and services. Huge amounts of foreign direct investment from Natopia into consumer goods, manufacturing, and hydrocarbon extraction and exploration have fueled Aldurian economic growth. A special relationship between Natopia and Alduria-Wechua is fast becoming a cornerstone of Natopian foreign policy, above and beyond the allied relationship currently existing as Raspur Pact members.
Barbary	Neutral	Visa required	No formal contact yet.
Bassarid Periphery	Negative	Visa required	Outlook tied to Bassarid Empire.
Bassarid Empire	Negative	Visa required	Disagreements from Normark situation, confrontation in War of the Lost Brothers, and Norse and Natopian cultural appropriation in Bassarid Kingdom of New Normark.
Batavia	Negative	Visa required	Prior negative experiences with Batavia have left Natopia wary of future interactions with the state in its post-Vanic life. Despite a strong working relationship in the past, which included sharing and selling space technology, ceding Cape St Sherrith so Batavia could reclaim its homelands, and the marriage of Clara Sundara to the former king (which was met with pushback from the Batavian government, greatly insulting the Natopian emperor and people), constant turmoil in Batavian politics lead to it succumbing to Vanicism.
Calbion	Negative	Visa required	Interactions through the MTO. The lack of LGBT rights in Calbion will prevent any meaningful diplomatic interactions with Calbion.
Chryse	Neutral	Visa required	No formal contact yet
Cira	Neutral	Visa required	No formal contact yet
Constancia	Amicable	Freedom of movement	Raspur Pact. Reduced from Positive to Amicable over disappointment over lack of LGBT rights in Constancia,
Craitland	Amicable	Visa on arrival	The very definition of "Amicable." Positive outlook and impression of Craitland, but no formal bilateral arrangements.
Drak-Modan	Positive	Freedom of movement	Raspur Pact, dynastic union under the House of Waffel-Paine
Elwynn	Positive	Freedom of movement	Raspur Pact. Consider each other to be sibling nations. Natopia's closest ally. Long history of intertwined relations. Natopia was for a brief time an Elwynnese protectorate. During 1678 negotiated, without animus, the transfer of sovereignty that brought the reunification of Normark with Elwynn.
Floria	Positive	Freedom of movement	Raspur Pact
Freeland	Neutral	Visa required	No formal contact yet
Graecia	Negative	Visa required	Interactions through the MTO. Any bilateral interaction with this state is unlikely due to the founder's public statement about being "generally anti-LGBT."
Goëtia	Amicable	Visa on arrival*	SATCo has trade and resource monopolies in Goetia which includes freedom of movement between Waffel Plains and Goetia. Goetics going to other parts of Natopia may apply for a visa on arrival.
Guttuli	Negative	Travel prohibited	Vanic associated
The Hexarchy	Neutral	Visa required	No formal contact yet
Jääland	Neutral	Visa required	No formal contact yet
Jingdao	Neutral	Visa required	Former tense rivals, several wars, cold wars, skirmishes, proxy wars. Now in an informal truce.
Kalgachia	Neutral	Visa required	Interactions through the MTO
Krasnocoria	Negative	Visa required	No formal contact yet. Wary of former close cooperation with a Vanic nation. Disapproval of Krasnocoria's record on LGBT civil rights. Natopian citizens are advised against visiting Krasnocoria for their own protection.
Leylstadt	Neutral	Visa required	No formal contact yet
Lostisland	Neutral	Visa required	No formal contact yet
Meckelnburgh	Neutral	Visa required	No formal contact yet
Mercury	Amicable	Visa not required	Reciprocal arrangement: Mercurian citizens may enter Natopia with only a Mercurian passport and stay for 28 days, with extensions up to 90 days, as approved by the Office of Citizenship.
Nova England	Neutral	Visa required	No formal contact yet
Palesmenia	Neutral	Visa required	No formal contact yet
Phinbella	Neutral	Visa required	No formal contact yet
Ralgon	Neutral	Visa required	Interactions through the MTO
Ransenar	Positive	Freedom of movement	Raspur Pact
Refliasia	Neutral	Visa required	Interactions through the MTO
Réunion	Neutral	Visa required	No formal contact yet
Sanama	Positive	Freedom of movement	Raspur Pact
Sanpantul	Neutral	Visa required	No formal contact yet
Senya	Positive	Visa not required	Natopian and Senyan diplomats have historically welcomed each other, with President Hands touring Lindström in late March 2013. President Hands has also attended Natopian events. The two's shared border in Arboria has been a source of positive constructive development, including the construction of a rail network between the cities of Dyas and Meiridosa.
Shireroth	Positive	Freedom of movement	Raspur Pact
Tellia	Neutral	Visa required	Interactions through the MTO
Thracistan	Neutral	Visa required	Interactions through the MTO
Unified Governorates	Amicable	Freedom of movement	Raspur Pact. Reduced from Positive to Amicable over lack of clear and definitive support for LGBT rights in the Unified Governorates.
United Isles	Neutral	Visa required	No formal contact yet
West Skerry and Sri Pashana	Neutral	Visa required	No formal contact yet

Refugee Policies

The Bovic Empire is committed to providing a safe shelter for displaced peoples across the world. Anyone may present themselves at a Natopian border crossing or port of entry and declare themselves to be a refugee or asylum seeker.

Political Asylum

Dissidents from countries who show a reasonable fear of persecution for promoting democracy and other civil freedoms enjoyed by Natopian citizens. Political asylum shall be temporary and granted at the discretion of the Foreign Secretary, who shall apply diplomatic pressures to create an atmosphere of political diversity for the dissident in their homeland.

Victims of Genocide

Victims of genocide, forced displacement, forced cultural assimilation, and other methods of mass-subjugation of a minority, shall be afforded refugee status and provided resources for 3 years to establish themselves as members of Natopian society. Acceptance of resources carries with it a commitment to remain in Natopia for those 3 years.

Vanic Refugees

A special status given to defectors from lands affected by the Vanic Taint. Must show a reasonable fear of persecution due to non-compliance with Vanic culture, or having suffered sexual, mental or physical abuse due to Vanic culture. Requires a 30 day quarantine after being granted. During quarantine, psychiatric services are provided. Valid for one year and contingent on ten-year residency in Natopia.