Forward Operations Doctrine (Laeral)

The Forward Operations Doctrine was a Laeralian military and political doctrine calling for covert material support for ideologically-aligned militant groups abroad where such support would hinder a state threat to Laeralian interests. Initiated in 1949 under President Sun Jia-wei to describe his principle of support for anti-regime militant groups in southern High Fells amidst the Accession of Lienne (Second Fellsian War), the doctrine was revitalized in 1957 under Sun's premiership, and would continue through the end of the Great War.

Origins

The Forward Operations doctrine can be seen as a continuation of the Gramontist principle of socialist internationalism, which was pursued on an ad hoc basis by succeeding governments during the Republican Era. This was pursued with the most lasting effects during the Accession of Lienne, when President Sun Jia-wei authorized that Laeralian Marines and the Bureau of Foreign Intelligence covertly offer arms and training to the Liennese Provisional Army in 1947, prior to the Liennese declaration of independence.

1957 Resumption

Following his return to power as prime minister in 1954, Sun and his government, including René Gramont as foreign minister and the canny Aristide Leclerq as Director of the Bureau of Foreign Intelligence, became concerned by the increasingly assertive position of the Imperialist states (Darya and Xiomera in particular) on foreign policy, as well as ongoing hostilities on the northern border with Park Yeong-gi's High Fells. On February 20th, 1957, a meeting of the Cabinet Council on Defense Affairs (now the National Security Council) adopted the Forward Operations Doctrine, naming three groups as the initial recipients of covert aid through the BFI: the Socialist Revolutionary Army in Slokais Islands, the Narbonne Partisan Front in High Fells, and the Free Andhrapuri Forces in Andhrapur. All three groups were judged as sufficiently ideologically-aligned and trustworthy to act as proxies.

The implementation of the Forward Operations Doctrine produced mixed results. All three groups received communications equipment and trainers from the BFI immediately, while arms transfers began over the course of the next year. The Socialist Revolutionary Army proved effective and ideologically capable, but was driven underground by a government crackdown in 1959 that shattered the organization; its forces would later unify with the Federation Army of Slokais. The Narbonne Partisan Front, although sharing affinities to Laeral due to French linguistic ties, was too ideologically incoherent for the liking of its patrons in Laeralsford, and the BFI liaison recommended support be withdrawn by 1959. Armed support was only withdrawn, however, in 1961, by which time weapons provided to the Front had been found in the hands of Fellsian-backed Liennese Patriotic Front insurgents in the Liennese Conflict.

The Free Andhrapuri Forces, the armed wing of the Andhrapuri government-in-exile which maintained headquarters in Laeralsford, proved to be the most reliable beneficiary of Forward Operations Doctrine support.