The Sôgmô has announced a variety of diplomatic decisions affecting Sandus’s multilateral and bilateral relationships with a variety of micronations, as well as Sandum diplomatic criteria applicable to all Sandum foreign relations. After much discussion in the past several months, Sandus is at a diplomatic crossroads as the State reaffirms its commitment to Realism and Libera during the Summer.
Sandus will leave the Saint Josephburg Economic Pact, named for the former capital of the Ashukov Federation, on 31 July. During the zenith of the Pact, signatories of the Economic Agreement included Ashukovo, Renasia, Austenasia, Sandus, and Leylandiistan; with today’s decision to leave the Pact, however, the free trade zone will have only two remaining members: Austenasia and Leylandiistan. The decision to leave the Economic Pact was made with growing concerns with the rise of further integration of sociarum civitatum.
Following discussions with Ryuho Hatsu of Kumano and King Adam I of Überstadt, Sandus will work for greater economic and political integration with the other socii states. Currently, different proposals have been made for an association between the three states, though all proposals agree on equal membership of states — without Sandum primacy —, thus liberating Sandum national interests of cives full citizens.
Sandus has decided to suspend diplomatic relations with two micronations for a variety of infringements of Sandum diplomatic virtues. Following a petition for the Sôgmô to reconsider the revocation of diplomatic relations with the Empire of Pavlov, the Sôgmô has heard the petition and has decided to uphold his decision; the petition came as back-channel talks between the Sôgmô and the Pavlovian Emperor were in the process of stalling. Following months of rising concern, the Sôgmô has likewise decided to suspend diplomatic relations with the Sorrenian Federation. The decision came as a result of massive sharing of citizenship in the Federation in a manner in which Jonathan Augustus of Austenasia described as a “sandbox” for micronationalists, which is considered a violation of Sandum diplomatic principles.
With the suspension of relations with the Sorrenian Federation, Sandus has reasserted its commitment to serious and professional diplomacy, Realism, and Libera. In addressing the Council, the Sôgmô announced that Sandus would “take greater concern for Sandum diplomatic interests, Sandum sovereignty, and professionalism and seriousness.” The decision by the Sôgmô to take aggressive action in preserving micronational professionalism comes amongst a trend of a variety of micronationalists who have likewise called for increased professionalism. The Sôgmô’s decision stands amongst a political and diplomatic trend from Grand Duke Niels of Flandrensis, Dominic Bellemare of Valinois–Saint-Castin, and Princess Olivia-Eugénie of Aigues-Mortes, as well as other micronationalists associated with la MicroFrancophonie — such as Prince Jean Pierre of Aigues-Mortes and Emperor Olivier of Angyalistan.
Finally, in high-level diplomatic negotiations between Sandus and Sirocco, the Sôgmô and the Siroccan Premier have announced that the two countries have entered into a détente. Both countries have been considered ideological adversaries since Sirocco was founded and joined the MicroWiki intermicronational community in 2010. In the months following the Great Ideological Conflict and other smaller ideological conflicts since then, Sandus and Sirocco have long been considered diplomatic adversaries; when the TASPAC states and Sandus sparred, Sirocco often joined the now-dissolved states of A1 and Yabloko in its diplomatic conflicts with Sandus. Today, however, both states have announced that diplomatic relations will be normalised for the first time ever. Full diplomatic relations will begin on 15 July 2015, which is the new Atomic year in Sirocco.
The Sôgmô’s decisions are appealable to the Council and by petition to the Sôgmô directly, meaning that many of the more sensitive decisions may be challenged or reversed by Sandus’s direct democratic assembly.
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