Type: Recognized Nation
Government: Representative Republic
Head of State:
Alexander Oehrline
Flag:
President: Alexander Oehrline
Location of Despa in the SPN
Despa, officially the Central Despan Republic, sometimes still called the Republic of Despa or simply the CDR is a Unitary Republic, which is located centrally in Sun Prairie and with several colonies. The Republic is a member of SPATO, and has the second most powerful military in the Sun Prairie Nations. It has a close aliance with the UFP, and was 2019's most recognized Superpower. Despa is a key ally of the United Federation, and the two nations share a special relationship. In addition, it maintains strong relations with Pyrrhia and West Mendota. In 2020 it legally annexed the territory of Kettle Moraine, which voluntarily joined the C.D.R., making the CDR the second-largest nation in the Sun Prairie Nations.
The Founding of the Republic of Despa was the primary driver of the Despa War, during which the United Federation and it's allies attempted to retake the land of the country. However, with aid from the Midnight Republic, Despa lost the war in a tactical sense, but was able to make a strong enough case for it's sovereignty when it was assured to the UFP that democratic elections would be held.
Despa and the Midnight Republic shortly combined to create a major superstate, the Midnight Republic of Despa, which became an overnight superpower. This superstate eventually included the Union of Patriam (formerly Salamandastron), Crimson Dusk, Meowtopia, and a partially recognized secessionist government called Ryanland. When it was discovered that the Despan and Patriamic governments were collaborating on invasion plans against the Federation, the Second Despa War began. The war ended in defeat for the MRD, which collapsed under the strain of a Federation Blockade and it's naval power.
Recentralizing around the Republic of Despa, the nation initially fortified itself for what it saw as an upcoming Federation invasion, and began a short period of isolationism from the remainder of the SPN. However, President Lapord of the United Federation invested heavily in reconciliatory efforts for the UFP and other nations which had fought the Federation during that period.
Despa has had one of the more eventful histories in the Modern SPN, starting in late November when it declared itself an independent state under interim president Alexander Oehrline. They shortly formed an alliance with the Midnight Republic, and the two declared war on the United Federation. This caused what is now known as the First Despa War, which say many skirmishes but few large battles, until the Despan Alliance was decisively defeated at the Battle of Eastside, in which the territories surrounding the Capitol of the Midnight Republic. With this, the Alliance surrendered, but as a part of the Treaty, the Republic of Despa was allowed to maintain it's sovereignty. Soon, it and the Midnight Republic created the Midnight Republic of Despa, a coalition/federation of multiple nations, which eventually included 7 member states. However, after the Second Despa War, the MRD was permanently disbanded.
Following this, Despa embarked on a democratization program, holding their first full elections for the Despan Congress, and created an international Congress to hold the President of Despa accountable for his or her choices. In addition, Despa signed the Sun Prairie Area Treaty, bringing Despa into SPATO, which further strengthened a now-blossoming alliance with the Federation. With this, Despa was able to finally purchase Federation planes, buying at auction 27 surplus Lexington-class Frigates. They also recieved the rights to permanently produce the Omaha-class Frigates, which became the mainline combat frigates of the Republic of Despa.
During the Monday Rebellion, Despa aided the Federation, and was one of the nations which helped the Federation deceive the Monday Rebellion in the False Surrender, and was one of the recipients of the falsely scuttled fleet, gaining 20 Minnesota and Victorious-class destroyers.
With the period of peace that followed the Monday Rebellion, Despa continued to grow economically, reaching third on the SPN economic charts, and became the second most powerful Air Force in the SPN. At this time, they also started to develop their navy far more, and they began to work to increase their overall military capacity.
Following the outbreak of the Great Prairie War, Despa immediately sided with it's now-closest ally, the Federation. Using their newly acquired Whirlwind Frigates, the Despan Airfleet aided the Union Forces in their victories at the first and second battles of Drive Island, and at the decisive Battle of E House. With this, the Republic of Despa became the second largest economy, surpassing the struggling Federation, but maintaining their position behind the Republic of Valentino.
However, after Valentino's temporary re-entry into the Federation it gained the largest economy in the SPN. This led Despa and the Federation to cool relations in order to increase their economies alongside each other. Unexpectedly, the Despan Empire was officially dissolved, with large swathes of land going to the Federation, UNSC, and several others. Despa's economy fell slightly, just below the Federation's, where it remains today. It was re-named to the Central Despan Republic.
The two powers formalized their alliance with a now famous "Special Relationship" treaty, which brought the two even further tied in international relations. With the outbreak of the Second Great Prairie War, the Central Despan Republic was one of the first nations to join the Allies, and contributed greatly in the invasions of Grand Meowtopia and the Truck Empire.
Following the end of the War, it joined with the United Federation and West Mendota as the first major members of the re-organized SPATO. It also legally annexed Kettle Moraine after a referendum in that country. This made Despa the second-largest nation in the SPN.
The Military of the Central Despan Republic is a combined arms venture with the United Federation and New Washburn, with all of these nations sharing the same military.
As a nation founded during war, the Republic of Despa maintains what is currently the largest military in the Sun Prairie Nations, with three branches: the Navy, the Airfleet, and the Army. The Despan Airfleet operates 480 active aircraft, with a fleet of 50 in reserve. This made the Despan Airfleet the largest in the Sun Prairie Nations until the F.W.R.'s remilitarization. The Navy is the third largest in the SPN, and is known to be a very powerful fleet. It is made up of large cruisers and destroyers as it's primary surface warfare ships, with attack and missile submarines conducting operations underwater. The flagship of the Despan Fleet is the A.M.O. Ruxton City, a Lake Carriage-class Guided Missile Cruiser named for the Capitol of the Republic of Despa, Ruxton City.