Statement from the Minister of Foreign Affairs - Ratification of the Covenant of Swans and Stars with Starlight and Horizon
Good evening, friends!
On behalf of the Government and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, I am pleased to announce the ratification of the Covenant of Swans and Stars, a bilateral treaty with our friends in Starlight and Horizon. We have a storied history of working alongside Starlight on major defender operations, including the record liberations of Lonia Kreptia Llor and Dystopian Utopia. Since becoming one of our more recent embassy partners in November, our relationship with them has blossomed through further defending and diplomatic cooperation. Our treaty has already been tested, and we are immensely thankful to Starlight for its support in our recent Delegate transition.
The Covenant of Swans and Stars expands our cooperation with Starlight and Horizon in areas like mutual defense and military affairs, intelligence sharing, cultural matters, and the World Assembly! We’re highly excited to be furthering our relationship with a reliable partner, and we’re super optimistic about the mutual bonds we continue to strengthen amidst a changing Gameplay environment. Additionally, we’re both super proud to reaffirm our commitment to shared defender values and our shared traditions.
The full text of the treaty is below.
Yours Faithfully,
Covenant of Swans and Stars
Covenant of Swans and Stars
Treaty of Mutual Defense and Cooperation Between the Coalition of the South Pacific and the Luminous Triarchy of Starlight
WHEREAS the Luminous Triarchy of Starlight (hereinafter “Starlight”) and the Coalition of the South Pacific (hereinafter “the South Pacific”) have built a relationship grounded in a shared commitment to defender values, sovereignty, and cultural collaboration;
WHEREAS Starlight and the South Pacific (hereinafter “the Parties”) wish to continue and deepen this relationship;
NOW, THEREFORE, Starlight and the South Pacific hereby agree to the following:
Article I. Mutual Recognition of Sovereignty and Shared Values
Starlight shall recognize the Coalition of the South Pacific, as established by the Charter, as the sole legitimate government of the South Pacific.
The South Pacific shall recognize the Luminous Triarchy of Starlight as the sole legitimate government of Starlight and Horizon.
The Parties shall not recognize as legitimate any counterparty government that assumes power unlawfully.
The Parties shall maintain gameside and off-site embassies with one another, consistent with facilities provided to other treaty allies, and shall strive to maintain diplomatic representatives in each other’s regions.
The Parties recognize their mutual commitment to broadly shared defender values and shall strive to uphold these values in accordance with their respective laws, traditions, and policies. Further, the Parties recognize the right and privilege of the other to engage in offensive military actions consentient with their respective laws and defender traditions.
Article II. Non-Aggression
The Parties shall not attack the home region of the other party or any territory of the other party that has been established by regional law and communicated between the Parties (hereinafter “territory,” collectively “territories”).
The Parties shall not support, participate in, or suborn any action with the intent of overthrowing or destabilizing the legitimate government of either party’s home region or territories.
The Parties shall refrain from conducting clandestine operations, espionage, or other forms of spying against the other party.
Article III. Mutual Defense
Upon request of the other Party, the Parties shall, to the maximum extent practicable, provide defensive military assistance in the event of an attack or threat of attack against the other’s home region or territory.
The Parties shall aid each other to the maximum extent practicable against attempts to illegally overthrow the Delegate of their respective home regions or territories.
Article IV. Intelligence Sharing
The Parties shall report any known threat related to the other party’s security to the appropriate security organs of the other party. For the South Pacific, the authoritative security organ shall be the Council on Regional Security. For Starlight, the authoritative security organ shall be the Triune Circle.
The Parties shall share intelligence as circumstances permit for the purposes of conducting defensive, liberation, and anti-fascist military operations.
In addition to reporting potential security threats and sharing military intelligence, the Parties shall share such other intelligence information upon the other party’s reasonable request, unless the party in possession of such information reasonably believes that providing that information might violate applicable laws, treaties, or terms of service, or when revealing that information would unduly compromise that party’s source(s) of information. Both signatories shall endeavor to reveal as much as possible in such situations, but not more than they can under laws, terms of service, or the need to protect sources.
The Parties shall keep classified any sensitive information or intelligence that concerns the other party, and the Parties shall publish that information only in a manner mutually agreed upon.
Article V. Cooperation in Military Affairs
The Parties agree to seek opportunities for military cooperation in defensive, liberation, and anti-fascist operations.
Neither party shall engage in any military operations that counteract, sabotage, or otherwise subvert the defensive operations of the other party.
Upon request of the other party, the Parties shall assist each other during lawful Delegate transitions of their respective home regions or territories to the maximum extent that operational circumstances permit.
Article VI. Cooperation in Cultural Affairs
The Parties recognize their shared interest in cultural affairs and shall, where appropriate and possible, continue to engage in social and cultural activities with the other party. Such cultural activities may include, but are not limited to, festivals, competitions, military wargames, and educational endeavors.
The signatories shall endeavor to invite each other to their respective cultural events when practical.
Article VII. Cooperation in World Assembly Affairs
The Parties acknowledge that they may, at times, adopt differing approaches within the General Assembly, but they shall endeavor to cooperate on initiatives of mutual interest.
The Parties shall coordinate their positions and support each other’s initiatives within the Security Council whenever their interests align and circumstances permit, and, in particular, so as to promote defender values.
Article VIII. Peaceful Settlement of Disputes
The Parties undertake to settle any and all disputes between them through peaceful means and to refrain from using the threat of force or sanctions against one another while this treaty is in force.
Article IX. Ratification, Deposit, and Amendment
This Treaty shall come into force on the date of ratification by both Starlight and the South Pacific as required by their respective governing law.
This treaty shall be deposited in a publicly accessible area by both parties.
This Treaty may be amended by mutual agreement of the Parties, provided that any such amendments are ratified by both Parties in accordance with their respective laws and norms.
Article X. Dissolution
Each Party reserves the right to exit this treaty. The exiting Party must privately notify the other’s respective head of government 72 hours prior to taking public action towards repealing this treaty.
