The Five: Where stands the Future of Gatchingerrak Union?

The Five: Where stands the Future of Gatchingerrak Union?

The Gatchingerrak Union of nations, consisting of Norrehavn and Norrskie Zasousti to the west and Novopetrograd and Ilyria to the right with Gatchinovo citystate in the middle of the Lac des Palmares, GatUnion [or shortened as GGU] is usually known as the five-nation union. Nowadays, however, Gatchingerrak Union is slowly shifting into a much looser, in some ways divided union that reflects increased geopolitical realities of the nations surrounding them.

Many reasons exist behind it, of course, but signs seem to point more towards inwards causes rather than external threats as the biggest challenges exist in the mix of domestic politics. Over the past decade, there have been growing distance between Norrehavn, whose government has seen a comprehensive shift in immigration and foreign policies, and Novopetrograd, where the constitutional monarchy is heading towards a decline as a liberal democracy.

The disagreements, while staying mostly on domestic and the bloc level, have made it to the Commonwealth stage and could be best described by Xolile Lubabalo, the Prime Minister of Banija and more importantly, the Chair-In-Office of the Quebecois Commonwealth Assembly earlier this week:

'Internal disagreements met by those of the so-called Rushmori Bloc of the Commonwealth, where mutual disagreements have led into conflicts for those wishing to travel and/or work to other nations, have been a particularly concerning note. It is something that the rest of the Commonwealth is keeping a close eye into, especially with the pending memberships of various states in mind,' Lubablo said to The Taegukgi.

Of course, this doesn't exactly mean that the Gatchingerrak, named after the strait that runs between Nyhavn, the Norrsk capital, and San Valerie of Zenic, are in a dangerous of falling apart as they were once in the earlier decades of the Union in the 1990s and the 2000s. The further away the Union's easterly nations have shifted from the remnants of communism, and had maintained more steady relations with the Commonwealth, the better they have fared as well. The issue, however, maybe in the future of individual nations and how their trajectories may differ.

This is also not to say that the Union fails to deliver political statements either, as they have found common ground in agreements made on the Commonwealth, where much of the nations' trade have been conducted under this level. Most recently, member nations of the Gatchingerrak Union had played a significant role in an effort to torpedo the possibility of Quebecois Commonwealth Forces' involvement in the Nyowani Kitaran Conflict a half-decade ago. While considered to be controversial at the time, considering the geopolitical value of Nyowani Kitara, it would come to be viewed as a wide decision in hindsight for avoiding possible casualties involving the Commonwealth Forces.

That said, there are still many issues dividing the Union, from figuring out the Commonwealth funds that are tied towards each nation's laws (though admittedly with enough clauses and legislations grandfathered to get around with it). Currently Petrograd and Nyhavn are in dispute over the fishery rights that have gone to the Commonwealth Arbitration Court after five year dispute between the two, and there still exists the issues over border control of the Transrushmori Railways between Yzerberg, Vaugania, and Metropolis, Valladares, with about half the trackage located in Norrehavn, Norrskie Zasousti and Novopetrograd.

'It is true that the disagreements exist between these member nations, especially as Rushmore region continues to see no end of international conflicts that seem to seep into Vatmark as well,' said Francois Prud'homme, a senior analyst at Gatchinovo's Vatmark Centre for Rushmori Security. 'All five nations do hold significant fears of possible intrusion into the Union by the foreign influences, and domestic interests take priorities over that of the greater Union and the Commonwealth.'

Currently the governments remain largely varied in terms of political alignment, with the status quo staying strong. Gennadiy Klimchenko, a former tech businessman who has since enjoyed a stable, political career, is still the Prime Minister after 8 years of stable, if hardlined, regime to the right, while the Green-LibDem coalition remains strong for Norrehavn, currently led by youthful, 53-year-old Lars Fromm.

Now, the current differences stand between the five nations over the matter of accession of two members on agenda into full member status - Afanc Strait.

'All five countries, especially between the Petrogradians, Zasoustians and the Norsk, have differing stances when it comes to accessions of possible members, with two possible members on line, due to their contrasting positions on the opposite parts of the world, and also because of their political and economic interests,' said a Zasoustian official.

'It is a good thing that these questions are being discussed right now, especially considering that BET (Banijan Esportivan Territory) Njaza is in a state of proto-independence with autonomous status and but also a part of Banija, while the Confederacy of Afanc Strait has its own issues due to Cenian status within the CRC,' same official noted. 'How this plays out and how this also affects not only the Gatchingerrak Union but the Commonwealth is up in the air.'

For all five states, being part of the Gatchingerrak Union, a geopolitical union of nations that have served as major allies (and at various points adversaries) to the former Shingoryeoite Empire, has allowed them to provide a significant presence within the Quebecois Commonwealth and its Assembly over the years, providing the bloc to mostly avoid capitulation towards possibility of open trade with greater Rushmore represented through the CRC. Frequently, from every six months to a year, do the leaders from the five states hold summits together and present agenda to propose Commonwealth-wide policies on the Assembly.

Novopetrogradian Prime Minister Gennadiy Klimchenko is in agreement along those lines, stating that the Union itself has its challenges but not in a position of existential doubt or a breakdown.

'It's inevitable, especially our position and proximity to Cassadaigua, Valladar Westlands and of course, Norrhem whom we do share common ancestry,' answered Klimchenko when asked over the phone interview with PPP.gvo. 'Some members are more open towards CRC membership or increased bilaterals, while others, like us, will look towards the third way, that being a way to expand our cooperation without falling into intimacy with certain expeditionary forces.'

'But that's fine, sovereign differences happen all the time,' he would add, expressing that the differences between Nyhavn and Petrograd over accession of newer Assembly members are natural, and that the Gatchingerrak Union itself allows for said 'differences to encourage dialogue'.

The ever-evolving nature of the Quebecois Commonwealth, one that had started out as that of the Shingoryeoite state, its former territories and colonies, and the Bloc itself, suggests that those differences are perhaps inevitable. Traditionally the Commonwealth Assembly sessions are held once every three months, each lasting over a three-day period though sometimes past sessions have seen longer schedules of up to a week.

The Assembly itself alternates venues, with odd-numbered sessions being held at the Place de l'Alma, Joongyeong, Quebec and Shingoryeo, while the even-numbered sessions are being held at member countries across the Commonwealth. With the upcoming session set to be held in Nyhavn next week, it is almost certain that the public will be hearing further discussions of both BET Njaza and Afanc Strait's candidature status past affiliate level, with additional topics such as the ASM-52 nuclear test made just weeks ago in Eura, to be discussed.

'There will be a lot going on at the Nyhavn Session, that's for sure,' said Nils Pahlsson, Member of Commonwealth Assembly (MCA) - Norrehavn northeast. 'As always with the Commonwealth and the Union, our goal is to continue its progress as a multi-regional union of nations fighting under a common cause. But it's not always going to be successful from a Commonwealth standpoint, due to our differences across the Multiverse, and the values may differ.

'It will definitely be placed into questioning periods, as we discuss the fishing rights issues in the Inland Sea, and also as we discuss the question of Commonwealth-wide security. The question of two prospective states' accession is another one as well, especially considering the vast difference in values between them, but for now we won't go much into that.'