The NC is a grand and powerful nation, one which frequently dispatches expeditions of zeppelin-mounted marines to North Africa in pirate suppression campaigns. During one such campaign, the troops' battle cry of, "Victoria!" strikes chords at home, and the nation votes overwhelmingly to adopt it as their new name. The nation of Victoria is thus born.
The NC has exactly zero capacity to field troops on the other side of the Atlantic. Very occasionally, they send symbolic token forces on Tsar Alexander's dime to support Russian influence-building operations in North Africa, with these expeditions played way up back home. The, "Victoria," story is true; Rumford loves him some anachronisms. The propagandists love it, too, and ensure that the ensuing, "referendum," "passes," "overwhelmingly." The nation of Victoria is thus permitted to come into existence by the tolerance of Tsar Alexander. [/b]