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The current policy of the Imperium is "officially" to shoot on sight without communication but in the fluff there are rare one-time temporary alliances with Eldar or Tau against Necron, Chaos, or Tyranids. Rogue Traders trade with Tau and minor Xenos like the Demurig all the time and even Inquisitors make deals with Ork freebooter mercenaries or Kroot mercenaries.

The way I see it there are 4 ways.

1.) Go even more hard-core genocidal on all non-humans. No trading whatsoever, actively seek out and exterminate all Xenos without exception. Helpless peaceful agricultural Xenos at the technology level of the middle ages on a random planet? Send in the Guard and murder all of them. The Imperium of course already does this but make it more widespread and aggressive. Dedicated more resources to extermination of all Xenos. Revoke Rogue Traders ability to trade basically kill everything. This option of course gives the imperium the most security but obviously the least benefit from any possible collaboration etc.

2.) Status Quo. No real alliances, still pretty hostile to all Xenos. Still pretty genocidal. This is the imperium we see in the fluff.

3.) Let and let live policy where if the Xenos doesn't attack us or threaten us we leave them alone. Alliances when of mutual benefit. Basically the stance of modern nations on planet Earth today. This allows the Imperium to focus on irreconcilable foes like Chaos and Tyranids. Have diplomatic relations and active trading with Xenos.

4.) Go full-on Tau Empire/Star Trek United Federation. Incorporate Xenos worlds into the Imperium and allow them to be members of the Imperium. Have a multi-racial military... government. Strength in diversity with Xenos auxiliary troops starship crews... etc. They could all be forced to worship the Emperor of course.

Sure I would like to ally with xenos species, it could possible reverse the downfall and technological regression but there are a few things to take into account.

1. Not all Xenos species in 40k are nice. A significant portion of them are actually stuff of nightmares.
2. The IoM is stuff of nightmares, most xenos species hate it with a passion even if they would normally be quite sensible neighbors.
3. Live and let live is impossible with most xenos species that form intergalactic empires due to the need for both the IoM and these xenos species to expand. The empires are simply bound to compete for resources.
4. The of the vastness of space and space travel generate observed time mismatches that could stretch into the 1000's of years, making it even harder to make peace.

This rules out all major playable races in the 40k universe, and almost any race who ever came in contact with rumors of the IoM. But hey I would totally be into allying with safe minor xenos races who haven't heard of the horrors of the IoM. It might even open the way for more relaxed interactions with the other races in the long run.

Tau empire option would work until they reach the ghoul stars then full on genocide seems like a reasonable choice.

Also its good to notice that the tau approach and the star trek approach couldn't be further disconnected from each other.

I wouldn't change it. Alien life in 40k seems to be awful on the whole. They seem friendly at first but they may eventually try to enslave you. Best to just destroy them all for the glory of the Emperor.

1. What Deffdred said.

2. Right to defend yourselves.
3. Maybe if the Necrons were united and Space Humans and space Undead/robots divided the Galaxy into spheres of interest, there would be at least 1 possible Tag-Team.

You can't let Eldar throw your people under the bus, can't let Orks spread everywhere, can't offer your people for dinner to the nids, can't allow the space cow-people to piss on Big E's lawn. But Necrons would stick with a Plan.

Plus, 40k wipes the floor with Star-Trek

Slaugther every single Xeno, burn their worlds, only when there is only Humanity left can there be peace

The status quo is fine. There are legal ways to get xenos sanctioned in the Imperium. And some worlds, like Necromunda, have areas of the main hive cities set aside for xenos on officially approved business.


The Imperium, in all likelyhood, turns a blind eye on unofficial interaction going on on the outer fringes as long as it doesn't involve xenos-related threats, trade in illegal xenos technology, it's some benefit to the Imperium, and you don't get caught.