2015 Land Claims Crisis

The 2015 Land Claims Crisis was a diplomatic incident in mid to late 2015 between the Grand Republic of Delvera and the North American Confederation over territorial claims. After several weeks of negotiations, the issue was resolved with the signing of the Missouri Compact on 26 October.

Background
In mid-2015, the NAC gained a constituent state in east-central Missouri. As per Confederation custom at the time, the government “quasi-claimed” the entire state, including the Delveran heartland. Upon learning of this, then-Consul of Delvera Jordan Brizendine contacted then-Prime Minister of the NAC Joseph Marx to discuss a resolution of the issue.

Resolution
A series of long communications delays due to the NAC’s “government holiday” left Delveran officials believing that the concerns were being ignored. However, Marx again opened talks on 2 October, whereupon Brizendine proposed a Treaty of Friendship, which was approved by both governments. This laid the groundwork for further negotiations, which culminated in the joint ratification of the Missouri Compact on 26 October. This resolved the dispute in its entirety, as well as guaranteeing the neutral status of the Kingdom of Callaway.

Legacy
The negotiations and peaceful resolution of the crisis were the first direct contact between the governments of Delvera and the NAC, and laid the groundwork for the Congress of Colo in 2017 and the NAC’s union with Delvera in 2018.