Nysdra Sea Treaty Association

The Nysdra Sea Treaty Association (NSTA), is an intergovernmental organization between three Levantine and Cronite nations as well as two international charter cities. The organization implements the Nysdra Sea Treaty that was signed on 5 November 2016. NSTA constitutes a system of collective security whereby its independent member states agree to mutual defense in response to an attack by any external party. The Treaty also consists of trade agreements, requiring that all signatories refuse to import goods into the "Inner Crona" region - defined as the Nysdra Sea basin - from non-signatory powers. NSTA, consequently, serves as both a mutual defense agreement and a restricted trade area. The organization is headquartered in Port St. Charles in New Yustona.

Mission
The Nysdra Sea Treaty set forth the mission of the Nysdra Sea Treaty Association:


 * To ensure long-lasting peace in northwestern Crona by mutual cooperation
 * To provide for the mutual self-defense of its members against hostile actors
 * To promote economic development and self-reliance between its members
 * To protect the common cultural and religious bonds between its members

History
During the South Nysdra War, Urcea eventually intervened on behalf of the "Legitimist" faction of Telucti Cheveyo, who emerged as King Telucti I of Quetzenkel following his victory. The War had been ongoing for nearly two years and the lack of diplomatic cooperation between the Cronites and Levantines lead to the emergence of the Sons of Levantia, who Urcea defeated prior to its full intervention. The new King of Quetzenkel and the Government of Urcea sought to formalize their alliance forged during the conflict, and negotiations began on the Nysdra Sea Treaty. The initial aim behind the treaty was to establish a formal diplomatic system for relations between states in northwestern Crona, and to additionally create a favorable economic climate for the development of industry and self-reliance in the northwestern part of Crona. Urcea and Quetzenkel, along with Urcea's union partner New Yustona, formally agreed to the treaty on 5 November 2016.

In 2017, Pachaug, Housatonic, the Unnuaq Mission State, and Shenendehowa Bay all joined the association with the latter as a "participating observer", joining Corumm.

Participating observer
The Nysdra Sea Treaty provides for "participating observers", nations and territories which are a party to the collective defense provisions under the treaty but are not obliged to participate in collective defense. This was written to provide that Urcea and its allies would be responsible for the protection of Shenendehowa Bay and, to a lesser extent, Xisheng, while Caphiria and Corumm would not be drawn into a war to protect Urcea's allies in the region. The participating observer status obligates its signatories to take part in the economic and trade restrictions established by the treaty. Participating observers are allowed to import goods from specific non-signatory members - namely Caphiria and Corumm - but provides that purchases of these goods can only be fulfilled and delivered to the signatory party. This functionally means that Caphirian and Corummese firms can do business in the Nysdra region but primarily through intermediaries in Shenendehowa Bay and Xisheng, respectively.

Criticism
NSTA has been criticized by many - including the Social Labor Party within Urcea - as being a method by which Urcea exerts colonial control over states in Crona. Specifically, the organization has been classified by some as a league between Urcea and two states which only enjoy nominal independence, given New Yustona's real union with Urcea and Quetzenkel's economic and military dependence on Urcea. Such criticisms have been ignored by many major powers, especially with regards to claims of "dominion" over Quetzenkel, which is a state recognized by many nations.