Valengate Conspiracy

The Valengate Conspiracy is a theory created by members of the former ISAF leadership with the belief that a circle of powerful NATO member states, with AEF being the head, were conducting clandestine operations to undermine the stability and power of other non-NATO and minor NATO states in order to ensure their own status as major powers. Though NATO no longer exists as an alliance, it has had a lasting impact on the meta and the factions participating according to Phil, who fathered the idea.
== Origins ==
The first instances of the theory in its creation began with the NATO-Petrograd War in the Summer of 2019. Prior to this, the 1-47 was split in two by AEF, forming the new UNC to act as a replacement. Though the split was not the beginning of the theory's creation, it is perceived to be the starting point of a destabilization program directed against 1-47 and their ally the ULSCI. In the NATO-Petrograd War, 1-47 and the United Legion contested invading Petrograd forces with minimal assistance from NATO despite their pledge for support. As the conflict spread into the now defunct Cat's Sandbox, the situation grew out of control for the 2 small groups to fend off. With the prospect of NATO assistance gone with the wind, the seeds of distrust were sowed into the leadership of both the 1-47 and ULSCI as they believed that they were left to die.
== ISAF's Creation ==
Following the end of the conflict, ULSCI and 1-47 cut ties with NATO and formed ISAF with the motive of providing mutual protection between smaller groups also facing trouble within the factions meta. The creation of ISAF was partly inspired by distrust towards NATO, which would carry on into the Valengate Conspiracy, which was created just weeks after its dissolution.
== Initial Creation ==
Following the Valen Incident, which plagued the ULSCI - 1-47 alliance with confusion regarding the reasoning behind the attack, is considered the strongest piece of evidence for NATO destabilization programs by adherents of the theory. Though later discovered that the motive for attack was because of inital ISAF plans to launch an offensive operation against IKR and UNC, the nature of the attack, which involved masses of NATO and other groups posing with tags of nonexistent groups, and the total lack of communication between ULSCI and AEF leadership on the latter's side, cemented the belief of NATO puppetry.
== Legacy ==
The legacy of the theory is rather small. Although distrust in AEF and ex-NATO groups remains within the ULSCI and 1-47. So far, only one reference of NATO destabilization programs exists from a video made by the leader of UNR.