Special Relationship (Norgsveldet-Federation)
The Special Relationship is a term that is often used to describe the political, social, diplomatic, cultural, economic, legal, environmental, religious, military and historical relations between the Federation and Norgsveldet or its political leaders.
Although both governments also have close relationships with many other nations on Urth, the level of cooperation between the Federation and Norgsveldet in trade and commerce, military planning, execution of military operations, intelligence sharing and intermixing of the industrial sector has been described as “unparalleled” among major world powers. The close relationship between the Norgsveltian and Côtois heads of governments such as Magrete Kverheim and Judith Ardouin as well between Johanna Sverdrup and Jeanne Pierre has been noted. At the diplomatic level, characteristics include recurring public representations of the relationship as “special”, frequent and high-profile political visits and extensive information exchange at the diplomatic working level.
With both nations being a part of the Norgsveltian Crown Realm often seen as co-leaders as result of the close cooperation between the two. With the current Secretary-General of the Crown Realm being Côme Bassot, a former Côtois diplomat to Norgsveldet. The Norgsveltian monarch being an important cultural figure in both states, and a unifying figure that helped keep cultural and historical connection between the two together. Even in diplomatic matters the role of the Norgsveltian Crown helped keep the two states working together.
Origins
The term first came to be during the coronation of Gustaf III of Norgsveldet in 1936, in which the king gave a speech in which he placed major emphasis on the close cultural, political and historical connection between Norgsveldet and the Federation. Stating in the speech that:
“My duty as monarch remains not just in the protection of my people and their constitution, but to all people of our Crown Realm in which protection of their legal rights shall not be forgotten. It is why as king I advise and urge political leaders of my country to never forget the special relations we hold dear with the Federation of Southern Coast. No matter the ideological differences in hand, it is one we can overcome to fester a relationship tighter than no other.”
Lykke Emphasis
The phrase was used again in 1939 by the Norgsveltian prime minister Ivar Lykke during a state visit to the Federation to emphasize the relationship between the Federation and the Norgsveltian Imperial Realm. In stating that:
“The fraternal relationship between Federation and the wider Imperial Realm has been a large reason for the continued stability in the North Concordian Ocean, and the geopolitical challenges raised by United Confederation of Concordian States and Morstaybishlia. That not to say there is no differences or disagreements, but continued cooperation between us will be a great boon for not just our people but the world at large”
The Federal Prime Minister of the Federation, Léonce Fontaine echoed such mood.
"Our socialist project does not, and never will operate in a bubble alone from the world. We can't pretend our socialists siblings are up to the task to insure democracy, equality, justice and uplifting the world. Our socialist kin, for the lack of the better word fail. As a socialist, our duty isn't to make everyone fall in line with our ideology but to prove by every measure our way is better than the capitalist kin. More than that, above than all of that our job as a socialist nation, as a bastion of socialist. Our duty as a moral upstanding people is to uplift and fight for the equality of those who are unable to fight back. We cannot pretend the socialist world is up to the task, with their red dark tinted glasses toward the world. As such, we must align ourselves with nations of like mind, in particular our former historical rival and lesser half personal union, Norgsveldet. Our great nation, newfound culture and more importantly, our asperations. Our partnership with our former union member, means more than simply putting on a new coat of paint. We will act not only as their partners in cooperation, but as their counterweight in moral and equalitarian affairs. Together, we will not only produce stability, but justice and uplift the world at large while challenging the neo-imperialists and those who attend to lie not only to world but to themselves about their capitalistic greed."
Military co-operation
They often host joint naval and marine exercises, to one observation that they act as one naval force in practice. The two jointly hold marine exercises in Eyjaria every second year, specifically within Eyjaria’s southern islands in which the two have a joint submarine base stationed. The close cooperation between the marines has also been reflected with two having near identical uniforms. Large scale naval war games are held once a year while smaller scale war games between military branches of the two.
Both nations' militaries also working together on how to continuously upgrade their military equipment, often in aspects of new generation aircraft fighters, infantry kit, nuclear submarines and 6th generation armored fighting vehicles. Though often done with cooperation with other states such as the joint production of the HK-45 having been a project done by NCEF, Federation and South Hills together. New military upgrades or design of new equipment Norgsveltian and Côtois often discussed with the other’s military before production of it starts.
Since the founding of the Federation, Norgsveldet has maintained a substantial force within the Federation.
Following the end of the Concordian Cold War, the number of Norgsveltian bases in the Federation has been reduced in number in line with the average Norgsveltian military bases Urth-wide. However, the bases have been used extensively in support of various peacekeeping and offensive operations ongoing throughout the Urth.
The two nations have jointly operated bases in several locations, most importantly in Ymirland after the civil war. The Federation and Norgsveldet make great use of each other’s naval and air bases across the Urth, example being a joint submarine base in the most southern island of Eyjaria. Which served as an important placement of the two nation’s nuclear submarines.
Military procurement and Industrial-Military Complex
The Norgsveldet and Federation has a long history of sharing military technology and industrial-power. There are several dozen jointly-owned or shared corporations which produce military equipment. An unofficial rule between the two countries, all ground equipment, such as tanks, infantry kits and such are built in the Federation while all naval and (armed) military aircraft are made in Norgsveldet.
Federation operates aircraft and naval equipment from Norgsveldet while Norgsveldet uses Federation infantry kit, armored vehicles, tanks and ect.
As such, the joint industrial-military industries are so heavily connected that laws were passed between the countries. That created a special zone for them which removed any form of transition fees and gave priority transition of equipment and minerals between the two countries. Creating a near perfect symbiosis between the two military-industrial complexes, having a complex network of shared industrial might between the two.
Intelligence Sharing
Economic Aspect
The Federation and Norgsveldet are one of the most integrated if not the most integrated on the planet. Even more-so impressive when comparing the two economies being incredibly different in structure, Norgsveldet following Worker’s Spirit in the Economy style of method, a semi-capitalistic model and the Federation using a Rochefort Model, a socialist model of economics. Interesting aspect, between the two nations has moderated and outright adapted to each other economies. Norgsveldet having far worker cooperatives per capita than virtually any capitalistic nation and the Federation working with far more companies through Rochefort subsidiaries or intermediaries. The intermixing of the two nations firms resulted in some of the largest companies on Urth outright, examples being Union Square, Jotun and many others. As the two economies are able to not only complement each other, but directly make up for each other's weakness. The Federation sure industrial and sheer number educated labor output with the Norgsveldet more technological and service based economy results in a a strange sense of harmony between each other country making up each other's falls. Several sectors of each others economy only existing because of the harmony and integrating of the two nations economies such as the massive medical sector in the Federation or the Norgsveldet technological sector. The collaboration of the two, created such massive successes as the Norse Way Group, or more in particular the subsidiary Gyllir Motor Corporation one the largest automobile companies on Urth. Norse Way Group, and its other subsidiaries outside of Gyllir are one of the largest manufactures of non-military aircraft and watercraft in the world.
Norvegiançaise
Norvegiançaise is a catch all term for a new language and a industry term. As a industry term, Norvegiançaise acts as a definition for agencies, companies, cooperatives and other such organizations that it is impossible to call the entity purely Norgsveltian or purely Côtois in nature. While the exact definition of the term greatly various between who is labeling it at the time. The most loose definition sometimes uses Norse Way Group as a model of what a Norvegiançaise is. Though more moderate or stricter definitions refuse the term for Norse Way Group as it is primary a Côtois entity but with heavy Norgsveltian investments. The generally accepted term for it by both governments, is that a Norvegiançaise entity is a firm that is equal parts influenced by both nations, is non-government owned and the listed head quarters of the firm is either in Osfjord, République C.D or in Vakkerhavfruebukt. The government accept term is heavily criticism by economic experts and organizations for being too board in terms of influence. Primary directed Norvegiançaise being as a language not being listed within the definition. Often when Norvegiançaise as a language is spoken, it is done throughout the firm be it in the boardroom or in the general working area.
Followers of Ny’Ingerism and other forms of Crown Federalism place a heavy focus on Norvegiançaise in both uses of the term. Pushing forwarded that Norvegiançaise inheritably pushes for Norgsveltian Crown Realm to be Federalized proper, as Norvegiançaise firms confusion about being Norgsveltian or Côtoise entity, and the challenges (such as taxation) that follow will only deepen further the cooperation between the two nations. Language wise, the pushers of Crown Federalism put forth the idea that Norvegiançaise will be language of the future of the realm, alongside Norgsveltian Nys'tat'en.
History
Relationship between Federation and Norgsveldet has been close ever since Federation’s founding in 1920 in which Crown Prince Gustaf became an important factor in ensuring its creation. In which the Crown Prince helped solve ethnic tensions within the Federation, and ensured continued support from Norgsveldet to the monarcho-socialists fighting in the Great Unification Conflict. So much so that he became known as the Red Prince in both Norgsveldet and the Federation.
Relationship between the two was mainly held together in its early years by the efforts of Crown Prince Gustaf, as the conservative governments in the 20s and early 30s wanted to keep the Federation at an arm's length to not alienate Vistaraland. With the relationship growing closer after Gustaf was crowned as monarch in 1936, reversing laws that gave unfair electoral benefits to conservative parties and in which liberal governments were soon available to be elected. With the liberal prime minister Ivar Lykke being the first Norgsveltian prime minister to visit the Federation. Through the continuous efforts by Gustaf III and Ivar Lykke, the special relationship was able to be established. With even more conservative parties supporting the relationship.
Public Opinion & Cultural Impact
While the popularity of the special relationship has varied depending on the time, most public polls done in either country showed high support for the relationship. With the public perception of the relationship only hitting an all time low in the 70s over the matter of the Tieresh Independence War. In a poll held in 1975, 62.5% of those asked in the Federation viewed Norgsveldet with distrust. Though polls done in Norgsveldet at the same time showed the majority of Norgsveltians holding a positive view of the Federation. Norgsveltian alliance and friendship with Vistaraland during the Concordian Cold War have been another factor hurting the public perception of the relationship. It wouldn’t be until the end of the Cold War and the geopolitical split between Norgsveldet and Vistaraland during the 90s that the special relationship would see high end in public perception. Heavily thanks to the close friendship between Norgsveltian PM Magrete Kverheim and Côtois FPM Judith Ardouin which became nicknamed as the Iron Ladies in both countries. With Kverheim being polled as the favorite Norgsveltian prime minister by the majority of the Côtois public. With Ardouin being polled as the second favorite Côtois leader in Norgsveldet only being beaten by Jeanne Pierre.
All time high support for the special relationship was polled in both countries in 2002 during the coronation of Olav I. With over 78% of Norgsveltians polled stating to have high trust in the Federation and stating the relationship to be a vital part of Crown Realm’s status in international politics. With over 71% those polled in the Federation stating similar sentiments.
The role of both nation’s shared monarchy has played a significant element in ensuring deep ties between the two. With the monarch sending its eldest child to the Federation to act as the Royal Protector, with the Royal Protector being the Crown’s representative to a Crown Realm nation. With Crown Princess Alexandra being the current Royal Protector to the Federation, taking up the title as High Jarlynja of the Federation. With the public perception that the Royal Protector to the Federation is often done to train and prepare the heir to their role as monarch to the entire Crown Realm. While different monarchs and royals had varying degrees of popularity within the two countries the institution of the monarchy has remained high. With the current monarch, Olav I, holding a high approval rating in both countries. With 89% support in Norgsveldet, and 78% support in the Federation. Though Queen Wilhelmina holds staggering high support in both countries, with 92% support in Norgsveldet and 97.5% within the Federation. Wilhelmina has the highest approval rating of any Royal, being barely beaten by Haakon III in Norgsveldet who hold an approval rating of 94% there and Gustaf III for the Federation who holds an approval rating of 97.8%.
The only monarch and royal to hold an extremely low approval rating for both nations being that of Harald III, with an approval rating of 45.3% within Norgsveldet and 24.9% within the Federation being by far the lowest ranked monarch either country had. It is claimed that If it was not for the popularity of the two nations’ premierships at the time and the popularity of the then Crown Prince Olav that the special relationship and the existence of the Crown Realm could be put into question. With Harald III being polled to be uncharismatic and arrogant by the majority of Norgsveltians and Côtois. Many also stated their clear opposition to the then monarch for his opposition to the marriage between Olav and Wilhelmina. With many politicians in both countries outright excusing the king for being an Anti-Akuanist for his opposition to the marriage. When asked If they wanted to abolish the monarchy because of Harald’s attitudes, the majority stated no, but in both cases majority of those who opposed the abolishment of the monarchy clarified that it was for their support to the Crown Prince and Wilhelmina in spite of their dislike to Harald.