Northern Treaty Organization

The North Treaty Organization, or NTO for short, is a intergovermental military alliance between 4 countries in Dresanaria. The organization implements the Northern Treaty that was signed on 15 August 39 AOTA.

NTO 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 Northern Territorial Headquarters are located in White Harbour, Imperial Gruvania, while the Supreme Headquarters of Northern Command is near Christfield, Athonia.

### History

#### Founding

On 4 March 39 AOTA, the Treaty of Christfield was signed by Athonia and the Imperial Gruvania as a *Treaty of Alliance and Mutual Assistance* in the event of a possible attack by Potatoland or the Forarendt in the aftermath of The Second Diaplanatic War. In 39 AOTA, this alliance was expanded to include the Northern countries, in the form of the Northern Union, also referred to as the Astlan Treaty Union, established by the Treaty of Astlan. Talks for a new military alliance, which could also include The Xavieran Archipelago, resulted in the signature of the Northern Treaty on 15 April 39 AOTA by the member states of the Northern Union.

NTO is an alliance of 4 sovereign nations but their individual sovereignty is unaffected by participation in the alliance. NTO has no parliaments, no laws, no enforcement, and no power to punish individual citizens. As a consequence of this lack of sovereignty the power and authority of a NTO commander are limited. NTO commanders cannot punish offences such as: failure to obey a lawful order; dereliction of duty; or disrespect to a senior officer.

The NTO commander can issue orders to his subordinate commanders in the form of operational plans (OPLANs), operational orders (OPORDERs), tactical direction, or fragmental orders (FRAGOs) and others. The joint rules of engagement must be followed, and the Law of Armed Conflict must be obeyed at all times. Operational resources "remain under national command but have been transferred temporarily to NTO. Although these national units, through the formal process of transfer of authority, have been placed under the operational command and control of a NTO commander, they never lose their national character.

### Structure

#### NTO Supreme Headquarters

NTO Supreme Headquarters, located near Christfield City, which is in the Christfield municipality. The staff at the Headquarters is composed of national delegations of member countries and includes civilian and military liaison offices and officers or diplomatic missions and diplomats of partner countries, as well as the International Staff and International Military Staff filled from serving members of the armed forces of member states. Non-governmental citizens' groups have also grown up in support of NTO, broadly under the banner of the Northern Council.

#### Northern Council

The Northern Council (NC) is the body which has effective governance authority and powers of decision in NTO, consisting of member states' permanent representatives or representatives at higher level (ministers of foreign affairs or defense, or heads of state or government). The NC convenes at least once a month and takes major decisions regarding NTO’s policies. The meetings of the Northern Council are chaired by the Northern Secretary General and, when decisions have to be made, action is agreed upon by consensus. There is no voting or decision by majority. Each nation represented at the Council table or on any of its subordinate committees retains complete sovereignty and responsibility for its own decisions.

#### Military Council

The Military Council (MC) is the body of NTO that is composed of member states' Chiefs of Defense (CHOD) and advises the Northern Council (NC) on military policy and strategy. The national CHODs are regularly represented in the MC by their permanent Military Representatives (MilRep), who often are two- or three-star generals and admirals. Like the council, from time to time the Military Council also meets at a higher level, namely at the level of Chiefs of Defense, the most senior military officer in each nation's armed forces. The MC is led by its chairman, who directs NTO’s military operations.

### Military Structure

#### Chastonovian/Xavieran Corps

A multinational corps under the command of NTO that is based in Athebury, Xaviera. Corps strength of this multinational corps is around 50.000 men, with the corps led by 2 representatives of each country. The CXC is a rapid-reaction force, able to be flown into any NTO cities within a matter of days. The CXC has 3 divisions, 1 heavy armored, and 2 light armored.

#### Kaphan/Roozterlandie Corps

A multinational corps under the command of NTO that is based in the port city of Maira, Kaphan. Corps strength of this multinational corps is around 65.000 men, with the corps led by 2 representatives of each country. The KRC is a rapid-reaction force, able to be flown into any NTO cities within a matter of days. The CXC has 3 divisions, 1 medium armored, and 2 motorized infantry.

#### Athonian/Gruvanian Corps

A multinational corps under the command of NTO that is based in the port city of Astlan, Gruvania. Corps strength of this multinational corps is around 65.000 men, with the corps led by 2 representatives of each country. The AGC is a rapid-reaction force, able to be flown into any NTO cities within a matter of days. The CXC has 3 divisions, 1 medium armored, and 2 light infantry.