The search for oil

Rasvidi wishes to notify all nations in Tiberiam that it has dispatched a team of geophysicists and geologists into the North Sea (Called "Pohjanmeri" in the Saamic language) to investigate the oil field that lies to the north of Rasvidi and to the east of Isis Rakael. The purpose of this expedition is to gauge the size and exact location of the oil field, which has been known to scientists in the region for some time but has never been formally investigated by any nation. Rasvidi is claiming sovereignty over the oil field, as no other nation has yet to express interest in it.

Scientists expect the field to contain around 10 billion barrels, or roughly 10% the size of the oil fields in Edo Edi Essum's south-western colony. Rasvidi would like to ensure the international community that it is doing this purely out of self-interest, and not in response to the massive oil finds in it's rival nation. Oil will not likely be available for trade, and will serve mostly to offset the costs of importing oil from foreign powers.

The multi-national, Rasvidi-based energy company Valtio, Inc. has been contracted by the government to conduct the survey, and will hold exclusive license to the oil field upon completion of the oil platform.

(OOC: I will delete the OOC banter, including my own.)

MFA of Edo Edi Essum wrote:

(OOC: Hmm...

You have 8% of Terragon's oil; then the remaining 12% lie around Okeedokee.
And thanks for the oil. This will be very interesting. That means Terragon contains 125 billion barrels of oil.)

Rasvidi wrote:

(OOC: That sounds about right. Just for comparison purposes, Saudi Arabia produces about 300 billion barrels of oil a year, and the next highest produces about 150 billion a year. Countries with a large oil field export about 100 billion on average, so I thought those numbers were appropriate.)

[Rasvidi, please clam down.]

[We mutually agreed upon statistics in order to create an understandable scenario. My days of inventing foreign resources have ended. Please feign respect for me and address me without fury.]

Official Communique
From NX401
TO Rasvidi

Rasvidi,
we have learned that you are going to mine for oil in NX waters. We will not allow this. We have sent naval ships out to keep you out of our waters. Any type of violence is an act of war, and you must leave the waters within 72 hours or we will capture and imprison the geologists, and deport them back to your nation

thank you for your time,
signed the Nx chancellors

From: The Isis Rakael Security Council
To: The Government of Rasvidi

Your presence in the waters to the east of our borders will not be tolerated. We will stand by our allies in NX401 and reiterate their order to vacate the oil well(s) immediately. Failure to do so in the allotted time will result in military action against your people.



Adm. Jana Sokolic
Isis Rakael Navy, IRSC
4th IRN Fleet

From: Edesu Minister Jordan Kriegipaz (War)
To: The Isis Rakael Security Council, NX401, Rasvidian Defence Commissar Alexei Rykov, Valtio Inc.

The Holy Empire of Edo Edi Essum stands behind its allies: the Ruffians of Serilaq, the Royal Nation of KingIsaac, and the Judicial Republic of NX401. All fleets, air forces, and available armies are readied for deployment, if deemed necessary.

FROM: Defence Commissar Alexei Rykov
TO: All those concerned

Rasvidi shall go ahead with the construction with this platform regardless of the positions your nation may have taken. The oil field has been determined to be in international waters, and it has been known to scientists for some time, yet no nations had made a move to claim it. Rasvidi has done so, and we cannot step aside simply because other nations were too slow to make a claim on the resource.

It should be noted that Rasvidi has the second largest defence budget in the region and one of the largest, best equipped militaries. We will be more then willing to defend our holdings in the North Sea. It should also be noted, as per the Mutual Co-operation Treaty, that any acts of aggression initiated against Rasvidi guarantees military support from our ally, the Federal Republic of Gracealona, who also has a formidable military.

Rasvidi will be claiming the waters in a 10 mile radius around the oil platform, and will aggressively defend the platform should military or civilian craft trespass on our territory. I suggest that the nations of Tiberiam tread lightly.

Long Live the Revolution,
Alexei Rykov
Commissar of Defence

From: President Glin Aeducan
To: Defence Commissar Alexei Rykov and President Andy Carlston of Gracealona

Dear President and Commissar,

After receiving the Rasvidian communique addressed to the IRSC and to the Chancellors of NX401, I have decided to respond to you personally, rather than work through intermediaries. I hope that in this way you understand how seriously the nation of Isis Rakael takes this situation. This oil belongs to both the Rakaelian and NX401 peoples. Claiming the oil and a 10 mile radius around your oil platform will not be tolerated. Your very presence risks a war that would leave both of your militaries and economies crippled beyond recovery. You have 72 hours to remove your people. Isis Rakael has the largest and best equipped military in the region and is willing to fight a war on multiple fronts. Our Mutual Defense Pact with the nation of NX401 ensures you will not be fighting a single enemy. You will be besieged on multiple fronts by an enemy with fierce resolve. I ask you, Commissar, to consider the chance you are being offered very carefully. Failure to do so will result in military action against your operation and any and all forces that defend it.

To President Carlston, I implore you to consider carefully the ramifications of entering into a war with both Isis Rakael and NX401. Can you truly weather a storm of this magnitude? Can your people? I urge you to speak to the Rasvidian government. Together, we can end this matter peacefully. I would hate to see an international conflict sparked over stubborness.


President Glin Aeducan
Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of Isis Rakael
President of the IRSC

(OOC: Posted this on a different thread, but I think it applies here nicely as well.)

To:All whom it may concern

Dear Friends,
I would like to express to you the conditions of supplying support in this conflict. As outlined in the treatie between Gracealona and Rasvidi, we are obligated to provide defensive support should another nation attack Rasvidi. However, we are not obligated to provide support for an offensive operation. In this conflict Gracealonian forces will support Rasvidian forces only in the case of an attack against you them and even then will only carry out attacks neccasary to halt the offesive forces. We will under no condition assist in offensive operations or attack any foreign forces or targets not directly involved in attacking Rasvidian or Gracealonian forces.
Sincerly,
President Andy Carlton
President of the United States of Gracealona

TO: All allies of the Judicial Republic
From:NX Prime Minister
status: **encrypted**

Thank you all for the support for my claim of stopping Rasvidi from coming into waters that belong to NX and the Isis populous.

The Chancellors are holding a special emergency meeting within the Council Chamber at the Capitol of NX401, Light City. We will make our Decision within the next 24 hrs (RL). I advise that you all hold special summits for your leaders and delegates to make sure that ,if indeed, entering a war with me is suitable for your government and people.

I wish these were more peaceful times Ladies and Gentlemen, but alas, they are not. I could make an appeal to hold a Judicial Order, but this would take too long.

The Republican Legion has started to mobilize. We would like all available assistance to help us in our cause.

Thank you for your time,
Signed
The Judicial Republican Minister,
Joseph Hilltop

To: All nations concerned
From: King Isaac

The Royal Nation of KingIsaac is prepared for any war. King Isaac issued an order that tasked the Secretary of Finance to boost the defense budget and to transfer the budget from law and order department to defense department.

The Royal Nation of KingIsaac sent 200 war ships in the area where The Nation of Rasvidi will search for oil. King Isaac would like to act as the "nations border guard" to avoid possible world war.0

FROM: Chairman Pralnikov
TO: All those concerned

Rasvidi will respect the positions made by Gracealona, and will not initiate hostilities against any forces or nations. However, Rasvidi will continue to refuse to back down from the construction of this oil rig. While all oil demand could likely be purchased from Gracealona, Rasvidi cannot allow the most powerful nation in the region, Isis Rakael, to grow even further in power and monopolize oil for the nations situated around the North Sea. Rasvidi believes that by claiming this oil as it's own and restricting it from Isis Rakael or her allies, that the resulting blow to the Isis Rakael economy will be just enough to keep the superpower from completely dominating Tiberiam.

Rasvidi proposes that all nations who allow her to continue construction of this oil platform will receive discounts on all oil exports from the platform. Isis Rakael clearly has plans to establish it's supremacy over the region, and while it may honour it's alliances and treaties in the short-term, these political maneuvers are designed to set Isis Rakael up for eventual global domination. The only outcome of an IR victory in this dispute will be the eventual loss of sovereignty for all of Tiberiam.

We, the people of Rasvidi, believe that all nations deserve self-determination and the right to existence. We believe these inalienable territorial rights extend even to our enemies and rivals, even those governed by tyrannical, religious oligarchies. We claim this resource, not out of petty selfishness, but to ensure the freedom and continued existence of the nations of Terragon and beyond. Isis Rakael, however, is a nation governed by short-sightedness. They are bent on achieving self-serving goals at our expense, at the expense of the people of Tiberiam. They are our common foe, whether or not you choose to recognize this, and we must band together to stop this beast from devouring us all.

Rasvidi implores those nations who have pledged support to Isis Rakael to reconsider, and to think about the potential long-term consequences. If you wish your spouses, parents, children, friends, family, loved ones to march and sing under the five-starred banner, then be my enemy.

Long Live the Revolution,
Venedikt N. Pralnikov
Chairman of the Revolutionary Council of Rasvidi

(OOC: Moved to International because, well, it has become so.)