President Gavin Norberg Sends Diplomatic Protection Act of 2026 to Council

NATOWA — October 1, 2026 — President Gavin Norberg has formally sent the Diplomatic Protection Act of 2026 to the Natowan Council, proposing new standards governing which micronations may establish or maintain official diplomatic relations with Natowa. Under the proposed legislation, Natowa would be permitted to decline diplomatic applications from micronations deemed unserious, inactive, fraudulent, or lacking a functioning government. The act is intended to prevent Natowa's diplomatic system from becoming overwhelmed by applications from states that exist primarily as jokes, have little evidence of actual government activity, or repeatedly engage in disruptive or unprofessional conduct. The legislation would establish a review process for foreign micronations seeking recognition or formal relations with Natowa. Officials would be permitted to consider factors including government activity, stability, diplomatic conduct, publicly available information, and whether the applicant demonstrates a genuine intention to maintain relations. The proposal would not prohibit citizens from creating humorous or unconventional micronations. Instead, it would establish that constitutional protections for expression do not create an automatic right to diplomatic recognition by the Natowan government. “People are free to create and operate their micronations however they want,” President Norberg said. “But Natowa is also free to decide who it conducts diplomacy with.” Existing Allies Would Also Face Review The legislation would not apply solely to new applicants. If passed, Natowa's current micronational allies and diplomatic partners would undergo a formal review to determine whether they continue to meet the country's diplomatic standards. Existing relations could be maintained, downgraded, suspended, or terminated depending on the results of the review. The provision is intended to ensure that established diplomatic relationships are held to the same standards as new applicants rather than being automatically exempt because relations were established before the act. Applications rejected under the act would receive no diplomatic status, treaty privileges, or official recognition from Natowa. The government would also retain the authority to suspend consideration of repeated or abusive applications. The Diplomatic Protection Act of 2026 now heads to the Natowan Council for consideration. If approved and signed into law, the legislation would trigger the review of Natowa's existing diplomatic relationships while establishing the new standards for future applications.