Fiction talk:French Colonial Empire



"The ultimate goal of this war should not be 'victory,' the complete eradication of our enemies and the dismantlement of their empires. History has shown that such settlements lead to even more instability, conflict, and bloodshed. Instead, the ultimate goal of this war should be an equitable and lasting peace." ALEXANDRE I

The Foreign Policy of the French Colonial Empire cannot be understood outside of the context of the Great Xonexian Schism and the events that preceded it. As a nation born in the middle of a war, every action taken by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs up until the Second War of Mirusian Coalition was to ensure the continued survival, viability, and independence of the state. At first, the primary concern both in the minds of Congress and Arès Villa was the distant threat of annexation by the Delpha Coalition of Planets. It became clear that a more immediate threat was present as the war wore on, that of dangerous infringements on sovereignty coming from the very command structure of the Xonexi Allies, leveraged by Lord Admiral Drevex into an imperial weapon for the Draconis state. This is what led to Alexandre's rupture with the Xonexi Allies and its seemingly desperate decision to exile itself to Mirus in order to fall with at least some semblance of dignity and pride.

Yet, this temporary break with the pack allowed it not only to recover its military strength, but to regain diplomatic agency––returning with the clout necessary to assert alpha wolf status within the Xonexi Allies, and with the independence and security needed to diversify its foreign mission. States no longer concerned with short-term survival can think of far more ambitious projects. Alexandre's early foreign policy––even though his defining rhetoric in The Path to Peace expounded grand visions––was forced to face practical realities.

The exact turning point away from realist thinking is well documented. The creation of the Covenant of Mirus, seen by most of the involved parties as a convenient armistice, was a moment of unplanned ambition on behalf of the Emperor, and that is why it is so dangerous. From that moment on, French foreign policy took on a whole new dimension. The Great Xonexian Schism was no longer a war for survival, but a restoration of sovereignty and the rule of law to the Milky Way. French diplomatic efforts in Quadrant 82 were no longer solely about resources and retaining a semblance of order, but an open power projection campaign to contain the erratic Jivirik-led Drodo Empire. The Mirus Galaxy, previously undeserving of its own bureau at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, became a battleground for French realist, liberalist, and constructivist thinkers, all attempting to piece together a workable plan for the seemingly impossible task of creating a galactic government. To say that the French lack ambition would be an injustice, and to posit that they lack the means to carry it out would be premature: there are many battles ahead which will decide the shape of the Gigaquadrant for years to come, and the French Colonial Empire has positioned itself to be on the very front line.