A New Era for Europeia?
(Europeia – July 7, 2015) With the coming conclusion of President Writinglegend’s term, and without any challengers having yet indicated an intention to run, Europeia seems poised to see Writinglegend re-elected to the presidency with his running mate Calvin Coolidge joining him for another term as Vice President. In addition to the president’s potential re-election, Europeia has called for a constitutional convention which may fundamentally alter the government and its functions. To top it all off, Europeia has seen a resurgence of its international prestige in both the military and the political spheres.
Many of the long-time Europeians had doubts about Writinglegend’s presidency before it even began. His first presidential platform was strong, some may say it was even too ambitious and set unrealistic goals. His cabinet nomination for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was widely questioned, as Starstream Tribe was a relatively new Europeian without much functional foreign affairs experience in NationStates or the region. “Foreign Affairs is usually a Ministry that is reserved for those with experience and with good reason,” said Senator Drecq during Starstream Tribe’s confirmation hearing. “A bad Ministry of Foreign Affairs can negatively affect the region and government more quickly and much more severely than any other cabinet member,” he said.
Starstream Tribe’s confirmation hearing was full of questions and comments similar to Drecq’s, but due to his good performance in the hearing and deference to the president in his choices for his cabinet, the Senate unanimously confirmed the nominee. Writinglegend’s and Starstream Tribe’s foreign affairs skills were quickly put to work and the first product of their efforts was the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) negotiated between Europeia and The Communist Bloc (TCB). The SOFA placed the military forces of TCB under the command of Europeia in return for military leadership training. “I am very hopeful that this agreement will pave the way for a new era in the Europeian Republican Navy and Europeia’s military,” Writinglegend said at the time of the announcement.
The signing of the SOFA between Europeia and TCB immediately elevated the region’s military stature and international prestige. Entrusted with the forces of TCB under his command, Grand Admiral Kraketopia wasted no time in putting his recently enlarged forces to work. In June, Europeia began joint operations with TCB. “The Europeian Republican Navy came together with the PRAF for their first joint operations since the signing of the SOFA,” Kraketopia said on June 14, recounting the first joint operation. “Four regions were taken in total, with a 100 percent success rate,” he said.
In a subsequent joint operation with the PRAF, Europeia captured three more regions with its TCB partners; Canada 2, Nations Under the Rador, and District 219. The seven regions captured by the combined forces of Europeia and TCB, under the flag and command of Grand Admiral Kraketopia, demonstrate that the administration’s decision to negotiate the SOFA resulted in immediate positive benefits to the region. Europeia’s commitment to military excellence, partnership, and leadership make it the foremost Independent region within NationStates. President Writinglegend’s leadership, Starstream Tribe’s diplomatic efforts, and Kraketopia’s military operations were critical to this rise in military stature and international prestige.
In addition to the joint operations with TCB, Europeia further strengthened ties with a foreign partner by conducting war games with The East Pacific (TEP) in June. "War Games are an excellent method for drilling triggering, movement speed, and defensive spotting," Kraketopia said. "The versatility of challenges kept the operations interesting, and it was one of the funnest evenings of military gameplay I've participated in," he said.
Further solidifying Europeia’s relationship with TEP and TCB this term were the hosting of two official state visits for these regions by Europeia. The region hosted TEP in May, 2015, and in June the region hosted TCB. Hosting state visits is a major international endeavor requiring the coordination of efforts of multiple teams within the Europeian administration, support from the Europeian population, and enough goodwill and positive relations between regions to pull off successfully. The positive momentum in international relations with these two important regions will only serve Europeia well in future diplomatic endeavors.
It is safe to say that the president’s nomination of Starstream Tribe worked out tremendously well for the region. The signing of the SOFA, the hosting of two official state visits, and the successful combined military operations validate the domestic and international decisions taken by the administration. The overall military and diplomatic successes of the region over this term have catapulted Europeia back into a position of prestige among its peers.
With Europeia’s recent diplomatic and military successes continuing, the region is poised to tackle a number of important domestic issues during the first ever constitutional convention. Topics for debate include the possibility of term limits for the executive branch, the potential election of Ministers, and legislative reforms in the Senate and Citizens’ Assembly, among others. It stands to reason that whatever comes from the constitutional convention, Europeian citizens will engage in a robust dialogue about a litany of issues and determine their own path forward.
As Writinglegend’s term winds down, the region’s recent successes and future opportunities form a window of opportunity through which Europeia can strengthen itself as a region, domestically and abroad. The foundation set by the president’s term, the collective minds of the region focused on the constitutional convention, and the leadership going forward after this next presidential election will determine the region’s fate.
The importance of sustaining the positive momentum cannot be understated. Many Europeians lamented the fall in international prestige over the previous administrations. The positive steps forward taken by the region shouldn’t be for naught. Whoever wins the presidential election will be dealt a stacked hand, a hand that can take the region and political careers of the next administration to new heights. Europeia would be remiss to squander the opportunity.
Written by Deepest House
