Foreign relations of Bethania

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The foreign relations of the Social Republic of Bethania were the diplomatic relations and policies that Bethania adopted and how it interacted with foreign bodies and intermicronational organization. Bethania, while not as well known as Saint Charlie, Yabloko or Landashir, was a fairly influential micronation and established diplomatic relations with eighteen states across the globe, most notable of which are the aforementioned Yabloko and the Talossan Republic. The Bethanian Prime Minister, Enriqe V. Qeli, was the director of foreign relations and the head of the Bureau of Foreign Affaris (BFA) A liberal social democrat, they established Bethania's current foreign policy to be similar to that ideology.

Bethania had a zero tolerance policy of dictatorships and it does not recognize many widely recognized United Nations members because of their governments, which Bethania viewed as oppressive. This policy was taken on a micronational level as well, and Bethania turned down relations with some states that have requested its recognition on the grounds that they are not democratic states. The Social Republic of Bethania is also atypical in the way it conducts its foreign relations as it always tried, when able, to replace an unrecognized government entity with a Bethanian-recognized alternative entity (for example, Bethania did not recognize Myanmar but did recognize the Republic of Burma, headed by Aung San Suu Kyi's government).

Micronational Relations

When the state called the Republic of Bethania was formed after long government debates and talks, it was almost immediately recognized by Los Bay Petros, Starland and Subenia, and since then, both Bethanian states (the Republic of and Social Republic of) had very good relations with those three states. The Federated States of Antarctica, Atlantis, Samana Cay, Sirocco and Theodia soon followed and they were also considered close friends of Bethania.

A territorial dispute with the North American Confederation led to a crisis situation with the confederation, a very large state compared to Bethania that, until recently, claimed land controlled by the Bethanian government. The NAC repeatedly, but politely, requested that Bethania become a state of the country, a confederation consisting of three states that have a very large amount of autonomy but are united under an emperor. Each time, Bethania politely refused the offer, and Bethania was invited into the North American Micronational Cultural Organization, an international organization devoted to keeping peace in the North American micronational world. For a short time afterwords, the NAC was regarded as a friend of Bethania. This short period of diplomatic peace was interrupted when the Bethanian government, acting on faulty information, cut off diplomatic relations with the NAC on the accusations that they practiced nazism, and another crisis situation evolved, this one much more dangerous than the simple land dispute. The NAC calmly corrected the information, however, and Bethania stepped down and the NAC and Bethania have had a shaky friendship and cooperative relations since then, until the disestablishment of that nation in 2011.

The Republic of Bethania recognized twenty-three micronations, which are listed below.

The Social Republic of Bethania had relations with one micronation subsequently cut diplomatic relations with them. This state was Mulaverno and Pretsopia, as the government partook in state sponsored hacking, and later ceased to exist.

Relations with Serbian and Antarctic Micronations

Bethania's relations with Serbian micronations were generally good, and two of Bethania's closest allies, Subenia and West Antarctica were both Serbian Antarctic micronations. One hot issue that Bethania and these two micronations strongly disagree on is the Republic of Kosovo. Both micronations have issued statements condemning Kosovo and stating that they will respect the territorial integrity of the Republic of Serbia. The Social Republic of Bethania is on the opposite side of the Kosovo spectrum, and recognizes all land claimed by Kosovo and has condemned the Republic of Serbia for its "oppressive" measures to keep the mostly ethnically Albanian Kosovo from staying in the Slavic republic. The Prime Minister of Bethania has expressed interest in converting both countries, especially Subenia, to Bethania's policies on Kosovo but respects that both the republics have no interest in doing so. The Republic of Subenia seems to have made the case for all Serbian micronations, saying that "the Republic of Subenia is an ethnically Serbian nation and we must respect the will of our citizens."

Relations with Asian and Oceanic Micronations

The only Indonesian micronation that Bethania has opened diplomatic relations with is the Federal Republic of Los Bay Petros. Like the case with Serbian micronations, the Republic of Bethania and Los Bay Petros have very good and friendly relations, but disagree on the status of many independence movements within Indonesia, most notably, the Republic of West Papua. Los Bay Petros does not recognize any of the separatist movements claiming to be independent in Indonesia, but Bethania recognizes most of them, except the Republic of East Java and the Republic of Riau. However, Social Republic of Bethania, although recognizing Indonesia as a world superpower, still recognizes five separatist movements within territory claimed by Indonesia, the Republic of Aceh, the Republic of the South Moluccas, the Republic of West Papia and the Republic of Bali and has repeatedly condemned Indonesia as authoritarian and belligerent, especially after a survey in Australia showed that a large amounts of Australians thought that the largest threat to their country was the Republic of Indonesia. The Social Republic of Bethania is not as focused on Los Bay Petros becoming an advocate of these five groups' independence, as the ominous dissolution of the Republic of Fiharaya by the Indonesian police shows that the Indonesian government is not afraid to annex and disband whole nations for the sake of "national security."

The Social Republic of Bethania has stated that it will not recognize the Federated Republics of A1, as the country has no flag or national symbols and Bethanian leaders have said that the country also has no real name. The Social Republic of Bethania recognizes the international organization called the Taspac, but does not recognize two of its members, A1 and Optima, but is interested in opening relations with Optima.

Asia is one of the most micronationally underdeveloped continents in the world, second only to Africa. Bethania is interested in changing this and is considering the opening of relations with the Empire of Vedistan, with the only objection to the country being the prefix "Empire of" versus "Kingdom of" or just "Vedistan", as Bethania is a very anti-imperialist country.

Relations with States in the Runic Union

Flag of the Runic Union.

The Social Republic of Bethania first established relations with the founding Runic Union state of Theodia after the Republic of Bethania became the Social Republic. The second nation that Bethania established diplomatic relations with was the Kingdom of West Germania, which was the first nation to speculate about Bethania joining the union of states which are mostly swathed in Germanic Culture. Bethania on the other hand is not at all the Old English cultural giants that most of the Runic states are, and the Prime Minister has said that while he hopes Bethania may one day join the Union, he does not want Bethania's lack of large scale Runic culture to belittle the great culture of the Union. The issue of joining the Runic Union is currently an issue on the Bethanian Parliament's agenda.

Macronational Relations

The Social Republic of Bethania recognizes all members of the United Nations, except the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, the Republic of Fiji, the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea), the Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahairiya (Libya under Gaddafi),Turkmenistan, the Republic of Zimbabwe. It also recognizes some countries' sovereignty over parts of the Earth that are not usually recognized by UN member states. These differences in Bethanian foreign policy are listed below.

Countries Disputed territory Bethanian stance
Argentina vs. the United Kingdom Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) Bethania recognizes Argentinean sovereignty over the Falkland Islands.
China vs. Taiwan Mainland China Bethania recognizes Taiwanese sovereignty over territories currently under its control, as well as the island of Hainan.
China vs. Vietnam Paracel Islands Bethania recognizes Vietnamese sovereignty over the Paracel Islands.
Georgia vs. Russia South Ossetia and other Russian occupied zones Bethania recognizes Georgian sovereignty over all zones in Georgia that are occupied by Russia, except Abkhazia, which Bethania recognizes as an independent country.
Haiti vs. the United States Navassa Island Bethania recognizes Haitian sovereignty over Navassa Island.
India vs. Pakistan Jammu and Kashmir Bethania recognizes Indian sovereignty over Jammu and Kashmir, Askai Chin and all Kashmiri lands claimed by India currently controlled by China, and Pakistani sovereignty over the Northern Regions of Kashmir.
Ireland vs. the United Kingdom Northern Ireland Bethania recognizes Irish sovereignty over the whole of the island of Ireland, including lands currently controlled by the United Kingdom.
Israel vs. Syria Golan Heights Bethania recognizes Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights.
Japan vs. Russia Kuril Islands and Sakhalin Bethania recognizes Japanese sovereignty over the Kuril Islands and the island of Sakhalin.
Marshall Islands vs. the United States Wake Island (Wake Atoll, EnenKio) Bethania recognizes Marshallese sovereignty over Wake Island, also known as Wake Atoll or EnenKio.
Palestine vs. Israel West Bank Bethania recognizes the border between Israel and the Palestinian territory of the West Bank to be at the 1949 Armistice Line.
Portugal vs. Spain Olivenza and Táliga Bethania recognizes Portuguese sovereignty over the towns of Olivenze and Táliga, currently controlled by Spain.
Taiwan vs. Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, China and Vietnam Spratly Islands Bethania recognizes Taiwanese sovereignty over the whole of the Spratly Islands.

Non United Nations Members

Bethania recognizes twenty-two entities that are not members of the United Nations, each of which has varying degrees of recognition by the international community.

Country Sovereignty dispute Notes
Republic of Abkhazia Claimed by Georgia, Occupied by the Russian Federation Bethania does not recognize Abkhazia's "sister republic", the Republic of South Ossetia, but will recognize a United Ossetia, made up of South Ossetia and the Russian republic of North Ossetia-Alania. Bethania also calls for the immidiate withdrawal of Russian troops from both Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
Republic of Aceh Claimed by the Republic of Indonesia
Republic of Cabinda Claimed by the Republic of Angola
Cook Islands The Cook Islands' independence is not disputed by any state. However, most states recognize the Cook Islands as a protectorate-like part of New Zealand, and the country is not part of the United Nations, but does take part independently in many UN organizations.
East Turkestan Republic Claimed and occupied by the People's Republic of China Bethania recognizes the East Turkestan Republic to have rightful sovereignty over the territory claimed by the People's Republic of China as the "Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region."
Guanxi Claimed by the People's Republic of China
Republic of Hong Kong Claimed by the People's Republic of China Bethania recognizes Hong Konger sovereignty over what China claims as the "Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China" and the City of Shenzen.
Chechen Republic of Ichkeria Claimed and occupied by the Russian Federation Bethania does not recognize the so-called "Caucasian Emirate", claiming substantial parts of Russia, and recognizes only Ichkeria as independent from Russia, although legislation is pending to recognize some other Caucasian republics of Russia as independent from the Russian Federation, due to limited human rights in those regions and other concerns about Russia's behavior diplomatically.
Inner Mongolia Claimed by People's Republic of China
Republic of Kosovo Claimed and partially occupied by the Republic of Serbia Bethania recognizes Kosovo's sovereignty over all of its current claims.
Libyan Republic Claimed and partially occupied by the Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya (not recognized by Bethania) Bethania recognizes the Libyan Republic's sovereignty over the whole of Libya.
Republic of Macau Claimed by the People's Republic of China Bethania recognizes Macauese sovereignty over what China claims as the "Macao Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China" and the City of Zhuhai.
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic Claimed and partially occupied by the Republic of Azerbaijan
Ningxia People's Republic of China
Niue Niue's independence is not disputed by any state. However, most states recognize Niue as a protectorate-like part of New Zealand, and the country is not part of the United Nations, but does take part independently in many UN organizations.
State of Palestine Partially occupied by the State of Israel
Republic of Riau Claimed by the Republic of Indonesia Bethania recognizes Riauese sovereignty over what Indonesia claims as the provinces of Riau and Riau Island.
Somaliland Claimed by the Republic of Somalia
Republic of the South Moluccas (Republic of Maluku Selatan) Claimed and occupied by the Republic of Indonesia Bethania recognizes Moluccan sovereignty over what Indonesia claims as the province of Maluku
Republic of China (recognized by Bethania as the Republic of Taiwan and commonly referred to as Taiwan) Claimed and partially occupied by the People's Republic of China Bethania does not recognize Taiwanese claims on mainland China (China, East Turkestan, Guangxi, Hong Kong, Macau, Inner Mongolia, Ningxia and Tibet) or Mongolia.
Tibet Claimed and occupied by the People's Republic of China Bethania recognizes Tibetan claims of what they refer to as the Greater Tibet.
Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic (recognized by Bethania as the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic of Transnistria and commonly reffered to as Transnistria) Claimed by the Republic of Moldova
Republic of West Papua Claimed and occupied by the Republic of Indonesia
Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (recognized by Bethania as the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic of the Western Sahara, often abbreviated to SADR and referred to as the Western Sahara) Claimed and partially occupied by the Kingdom of Morocco
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