Delphi Pact

The Delphi Pact was a treaty signed in 2017 in Delphi, Acadia by the countries of Acadia, Southern Ocean City, Furshire, Okan, and Hailvale, creating the organization of the same name. The treaty guaranteed economic and military cooperation between the countries, and also strengthened the bonds between the countries. As all member states of the Delphi Pact are members of the Free Republic Union, the Pact also serves to further integration of each of the member states into the Free Republic Union as well, helping to strengthen the Free Republic Union.

At the time, Acadia, the architect of the pact and the strongest country in it both economically and militarily, had been suspended from the Free Republic Union, straining its relations with many of its former allies, and wanted to improve relations with said nations once more. Negotiations began in mid 2017 and ended with the signing of the Delphi Pact in 2017. The Delphi Pact also maintains a close relationship with the Western Union, since Acadia is a member state of both alliances, and which helps to strengthen ties between the Free Republic Union and the Western Union.

History
After the Bow Tie War and Acadia's suspension from the Free Republic Union, the country's relations were soured with the United States of Antarctica and many of the Free Republic countries. Although they gained new allies in the Western Union, the Acadian government hoped to reconcile its relationship with the Free Republics. Additionally, Acadian companies were looking for new countries to expand to, and the Acadian government also hoped to found military bases in other friendly countries to increase their influence and power around Antarctica.

In mid 2017, the Acadian government contacted the government of Southern Ocean City, looking for an alliance. Southern Ocean City agreed to join the alliance, and a treaty was set for later in the year. In the later months, Acadia also contacted the governments of Furshire and Okan, who both agreed to an alliance. The last country contacted was Hailvale, a small country that Acadia saw had opportunities for expansion, and the country agreed to sign as well mere days before the treaty date. A summit was planned in Delphi, the capital of Acadia, where the organization would be created.

In late November, the leaders of the country flew to Delphi, Acadia, where they signed the Delphi Pact, guaranteeing economic and military cooperation between each other. The pact allowed for easier economic cooperation between both the governments and companies of the countries, and also economic aid in times of crisis, and also allowed for military training exercises between the countries, along with guaranteed military protection, most of which would be provided by Acadia and possibly Furshire, the largest and most powerful countries in the pact.

After the signing of the pact, Poshia expressed an interest in joining the pact, and negotiations began between the countries. The Acadian government had interacted with the Poshian government in the past few months, even sending some money to its impoverished government, attempting to improve the Poshian economy, and funding the Poshian military in its wars against Dorkugal. Acadian soldiers have also trained Poshian soldiers, and Acadia is expected to build a military base in Poshia. The Land of Flystar55555 and the Maps Union also expressed interest in signing the pact.

A few months after the original countries signed the pact, Poshia, the Emperorlands, and the Land of Flystar55555, signed the pact as well, becoming members of the Delphi Pact alliance. In a speech to the leaders of the member states, Acadian President Brant Esser called the new countries joining as "a new future of increased cooperation between our countries, and a brighter future for our countries as well." President Esser also laid out his plans for the pact, which included a military buildup in the less powerful of the countries and increased integration.

In May 2018, Red Island signed the pact as well after weeks of negotiations with the other members, who needed to consent first before the country could be admitted. Red Island was closely aligned with Hailvale due to the fact that both countries had the same leader. At the same time, Andera, small country that had recently gained more land and power after it purchased large pieces of land from Duck Island, another Acadian ally, became an observer. There are currently no countries wishing to join the pact, but Acadia is hoping for Dragonstone and Duck Island to become observers in 2019.

Acadia's suspension from the Free Republic Union was lifted in March 2019 after the member states had agreed that Acadia had made significant steps to improving its relations with the Free Republics and stopped its aggressive rhetoric towards some member states of the Free Republic Union. The Acadian Minister of Foreign Affairs called the event as extremely important for Acadia, the Delphi Pact, and the Free Republic Union, and reaffirmed his country's commitment towards further integrating the Delphi Pact and Free Republic Union and to be an active participant in both organizations.

Economy
Acadia, Furshire, Hailvale, and the Maps Union are all rich in natural resources, with Acadia having few natural resources in Metropolitan Acadia aside from a few oil platforms in the surrounding sea, but an abundance of natural resources in its colonies. One of the main exports is oil and other fuels, which many of the member states have an abundance of, but other natural resources like timber are also common. Furshire and Hailvale both have vast reserves of precious minerals, with Furshire having one of the largest diamond reserves in Antarctica, while Hailvale has many silver reserves.

Many of the Delphi Pact member states, Hailvale, the Land of Flystar55555, the Maps Union, Okan, Poshia, and Red Island, receive millions of Fish from Acadia each year as part of foreign aid. This is to develop the economies of countries receiving the foreign aid, as some member states of the Pact, such as Poshia, are impoverished. Acadia has also given military aid to some members of the Delphi Pact, notably Okan and Poshia, but it was announced in February 2019 that Acadia would stop giving military aid to Poshia, with money meant for military aid instead being given for economic development.

Military
The largest military in the pact is the Furshirian Armed Forces, which has around 260,000 active soldiers, but the most powerful military in the pact is the Acadian Defense Forces, which has around 210,000 active soldiers. The third largest military in the pact is the Anderan military, which has around 150,100 active soldiers. Together, these three countries are considered the "big three", and have more soldiers than the rest of the countries' military forces combined. The total military strength of the pact is 939,700 active soldiers, most of which are soldiers from the "big three".

The Delphi Pact currently doesn't have a unified military force, though the countries plan to create a small force for peacekeeping purposes when the pact gets larger or more powerful. However, the leaders of the member states are working together to discuss the creation of joint military exercises between the military personnel of the member states, and have also been discussing increased cooperation between the countries' military forces. The main issue in the Delphi Pact, however, is to get the smaller and less powerful countries at Delphi Pact standards in terms of military strength.

Signatories

 * AcadiaFlag.png Acadia
 * Hailflag.png Hailvale
 * Furflag3.png Furshire
 * Soc.png Southern Ocean City
 * Red Island image flag.png Red Island
 * Okan Flag.png Okan
 * Poshia$flag$animation.png Poshia
 * FlystarFlag.png Land of Flystar55555
 * AnderaNewFlag.png Andèra

Observers:
 * Maps flag.png Maps Union
 * Warmslate.png Warmslates

Reactions

 * NewUnitedProvincesFlag.png United Provinces: President Simon McClark opted to remain neutral, stating that Acadia's internal and external affairs are not the United Provinces' concern unless they directly threaten the United Provinces' national sovereignty, while Prime Minister Patrick Smith and Minister of Foreign Affairs Monica Le Ben proposed that the United Provinces join the alliance, calling Acadia "our proud and natural ally against globalism".