(Sorry for the late post, RL has been a pain. But let’s get started!)
My Agenda for FA:
My plans if confirmed as MoFA for this term are threefold:
(1) I plan to, after consultation with the Cabinet and the Foreign Affairs Council, have an honest discussion in the Assembly about what exactly is TSP’s current direction when it comes to Foreign Affairs.
As a GCR and one of the leading members of the Defender sphere, we do have a strong and steady influence in gameplay matters, be it through our votes in the WA, operations with the SPSF, and outreach with other regions and organizations. But much has changed over the last few years, and our foreign policy can no longer just be dictated by the R/D dichotomy alone. We have seen, among other things:
- the addition of Frontiers to the game, which not only has drastically reduced the population of Feeders, but has also resulted in a new ideology of Frontierism to be adopted by some of the larger Frontiers;
- the creation of two new GCRs (Perdition and the Outback), one of which was the subject of a recent scandal;
- new voting blocs (such as S7) forming that has been successfully exerting their influence on World Assembly legislation and votes.
In the face of our changing environment, we should be prepared to carefully evaluate what are our guiding Foreign Affairs principles, while continually adhering to our constitutional duty towards Defender values. In doing so, these principles can be a collective guide for how we all, in our capacity as informal ambassadors of the Coalition when we interact with others, can present ourselves in a complex gameplay environment, so that we can remain that strong and steady influence that we are known for being on NationStates.
(2) I plan on fostering closer relations and collaboration with other like-minded regions in the coming term. With our treatied partners and other close friends, we should not just be content with sending them occasional updates or organising a few games and events with them now and again. We should find ways in which we can build cross-regional collaboration, be it through long-term cultural exchanges on respective Discords/forums/RMBs, joint publications or podcasts, and coauthorship of WA proposals.
Like-minded regions include those that TSP might not currently have close relationships or treaties with, and also include sizable regions that do not traditionally partake or have an interest in R/D gameplay, but have a wealth of experience in areas that we can benefit from, such as Roleplay and the WA. I plan on making a concerted effort to reach out to these regions in my term.
(3) I plan on building a strong Foreign Affairs team in the region through the Foreign Affairs Council, a legacy that future Prime Ministers can tap upon to enact their future FA plans. Both @ProfessorHenn and I want trusted and responsible members of the region, especially those that may not currently have significant FA experience, to step up to join the FA team, to join us in negotiations, outreach and other FA matters. We will reach out to such promising members, and if you think you have such promise, do not hesitate to reach out to us.
Even if you are not a member of the Foreign Affairs Council, Legislators have access to private areas of the Assembly, both forumside and on Discord, where sensitive topics can be discussed safely. We welcome all questions on FA matters through the appropriate avenues.
Legislative Procedure Act 2(4) provides that the Deputy Chair will take over the office of Chair in the event that the office is vacant. @Welly is no stranger to all Legislators, and I trust that they will be an effective Chair of the Assembly. They will put out a statement in due course, in the event that I am successfully confirmed as MoFA.
