Peace Treaty Stumbles
Impasse over Military Cap

Nearly four weeks have passed since the guns fell silent and already a new month has arrived. However, the different sides in the conflict have continued the bitter bickering which has cast doubt on any sort of reconciliation after the war. Although some of the terms of the peace treaty have been implemented, such as construction of the Steel Glider to all Nexus nations and demotion of Great Powers, remaining terms rest on paper.

In fact, the leading members of the Platinum Nexus have refused to sign the Treaty of Riksholm as a direct result of an ambiguity in the document. When signing, the members of the Phoenix Confederacy believed that they would exploit what they thought to be a loophole. During negotiations, which nearly fell through twice, both parties agreed that there would be no military cap on the Confederacy.

The Platinum Nexus interpreted this development as that when combined, the separate Confederate armies would not face a cap dependent, as a percentage, on the trailing militarized Confederate nation. The result would be that if a leading nation, say Nation A, has three times as many citizens, would not have to take the size of fellow Confederate nations into account. If a cap were in place, for example 25%, the leading Confederate nation would only be able to have a military with 25% of the total population of the trailing nation. The Platinum Nexus did not want to destroy the Confederacy and decided to forego implementation of the Confederate military cap since there would be inevitable discontent between leading and trailing nations.

In contrast, the Confederacy interpreted the absence of a Confederate military cap as an invitation to form a pan-Confederate army of unlimited size. Like the Nexus, the Confederacy believed that the Nexus did not want to destroy them, and thought that the Nexus would encourage cooperation within the Confederacy through the creation of a transnational army.

At the time when the peace treaty was formally drafted, no nation had ever merged its military with another nation. The thought of four nations merging their armies, navies, and air forces was remote by many.

Not surprisingly, the misinterpretation by both sides over the absence of a Confederate military cap has cemented mutual bitterness and enmity. The Ethnarch of Rattanjeetland charged the Nexus with going back on its word while the Prime Chancellor of Marcusburg charged the Confederacy with negotiating in bad faith, intent on destroying the very treaty meant to preserve peace for future generations.

Matters are further complicated by the fact that the Confederacy refuses to negotiate with the Nexus, claiming that the Treaty of Riksholm is done and over with. However, Lindsholm and Marcusburg troops still occupy Kamogradian and Rattanjeetarr soil. As well, both nations have not signed the peace treaty, meaning that they do not have to abide by its terms. In response, the Ethnarch charged that since those nations have not signed, they should not participate in the expansion of the Steel Glider. However, construction is already complete and legal experts claim that the treaty does not pertain directly to Nexus powers since it is only the Confederacy which gives, and the Nexus which receives. By signing the treaty, the Confederacy has agreed to give. By not signing the treaty, the Nexus has not formally agreed to receive. However, there is nothing to stop the Nexus from receiving, regardless of a signature.

Compounded with the fact that the Secretary-General confirmed a military-based reconstruction campaign for the Confederacy, diplomatic relations between both sides are rapidly deteriorating. The Nexus is enraged at the Confederate attempt to re-arm and its interpretation of the absence of a pan-Confederate military cap. The Confederacy claims it is re-arming to defend its interests, as any normal nation would, and that its interpretation of the cap is right.

Both sides have reached an impasse. The prospect of renewed military conflict is not as remote as some would like to think.