09-07-2026, 10:07 PM
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FM Ontiveros says Bentasur handover on "pause"
Gaduri Navy have not ordered new ships for Navy
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
February 8, 5740
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FM Ontiveros speaks to The Republic on Bentasur
His Imperial Majesty's Foreign Minister, Sir Miguel Ontiveros, stated that the process to return Bentasur to the Kingdom of Gaduridos is officially stalled out. "The Handover of Bentasur is now on pause for the time being," said Sir Ontiveros. "We were making progress and have completed two Frigates and three corvettes, but the Government of Gaduridos neither appears to be building any ships at Puerto de Gaduri, nor has ordered any new ships through the Kalistani procurement program, and until the Gaduri Navy is stood up, we cannot reduce our own foot print in the region."
The Foreign Minister said the plan was always to work on Gaduridos' schedule. "When we went into talks around Bentasur, they were understandably hesitant about whether or not they would be able to take on the financial cost of building and maintaining their own Navy," said Ontiveros. "There was a lot of excitement around Bentasur, but the area remains of high strategic importance to His Imperial Majesty, and the goal was to return sovereignty over the base once Gaduridos was stood up. However long that would take. We still intend to return the base to Gaduridos--that policy has been decided upon. But it will be delayed until Gaduridos is ready to begin taking up its portion of the security responsibilities in the region."
The Foreign Minister did not characterize the delay in negative terms. "No, there is nothing that Gaduridos did or didn't do which is affecting the time table. We have completed about a half a dozen ships for the Gaduri Navy, but we are waiting for Gaduridos to begin building ships of their own and/or ordering more from Kalistan. As it is, these completed ships will simply be incorporated into the 3rd Imperial Fleet at Bentasur and the Gaduri officers and sailors who are currently sailing on Kalistani ships will begin patrolling in these ships. They will sail under the Gaduri Flag, but will be attached to the 3rd Imperial Fleet Command Structure for the time being, until the Gaduri Navy formally takes them over." He also noted that procurement in Kaliburg for the Gaduri Navy will be put on pause until Gaduridos asks it to resume. "These ships are not free, and if they are not to be used, they are just wasted money for the Kingdom of Gaduridos, so it is important that Gaduri sailors begin using them. We are more than willing to continue building ships in Kaliburg, and look forward to Gaduridos joining us in the effort at their facilities in CdG, but won't do so until the Government of Gaduridos requests more ships."
The Foreign Minister said that the base division will continue on schedule. "We still have set a return date of November 12, 5741 as the return date for the Seaward side of Bentasur, also known as East Camp. That transfer remains on schedule. We continue to work with representatives of the Gaduri Ministry of Defense to make sure this transition remains on pace. The fact is, we promised to hand it back over, and even if the docks there only host five ships under Gaduri Flag, there are barracks, offices, and supply depots located there for them to do with as they please." The only thing that is delayed by the pull back by Gaduridos is the transfer of sovereignty over West Camp, or the Kalistani portion of the base. "That phase is on indefinite hold, until Gaduridos stands up its navy." The Foreign Minister suggested that be believed budgetary issues to be the main driver in the delay and expresses hope that those matters are ironed out in Gaduridos sooner, rather than later.
The Nationalist contingent in the National Assembly cheered the delay calling it an act of providence, while the Foreign Minister played off the celebration. "Bentasur is going back, that part is not up for debate. The only question, now, is when. And for the time being we shall remain committed to keeping our word and returning East Camp, while maintaining West Camp now becomes an ongoing concern once more." The Royal Family, currently at Playa de Paz, issued a comment suggesting that His Imperial Majesty, Emperor William II Ananto would prefer West Camp be restored to Gaduridos sooner rather than later, but also acknowledged the obvious security deficit which would be created by a restoration of sovereignty over the full base without corresponding Gaduri step up in security capacity.
The Foreign Minister said the plan was always to work on Gaduridos' schedule. "When we went into talks around Bentasur, they were understandably hesitant about whether or not they would be able to take on the financial cost of building and maintaining their own Navy," said Ontiveros. "There was a lot of excitement around Bentasur, but the area remains of high strategic importance to His Imperial Majesty, and the goal was to return sovereignty over the base once Gaduridos was stood up. However long that would take. We still intend to return the base to Gaduridos--that policy has been decided upon. But it will be delayed until Gaduridos is ready to begin taking up its portion of the security responsibilities in the region."
The Foreign Minister did not characterize the delay in negative terms. "No, there is nothing that Gaduridos did or didn't do which is affecting the time table. We have completed about a half a dozen ships for the Gaduri Navy, but we are waiting for Gaduridos to begin building ships of their own and/or ordering more from Kalistan. As it is, these completed ships will simply be incorporated into the 3rd Imperial Fleet at Bentasur and the Gaduri officers and sailors who are currently sailing on Kalistani ships will begin patrolling in these ships. They will sail under the Gaduri Flag, but will be attached to the 3rd Imperial Fleet Command Structure for the time being, until the Gaduri Navy formally takes them over." He also noted that procurement in Kaliburg for the Gaduri Navy will be put on pause until Gaduridos asks it to resume. "These ships are not free, and if they are not to be used, they are just wasted money for the Kingdom of Gaduridos, so it is important that Gaduri sailors begin using them. We are more than willing to continue building ships in Kaliburg, and look forward to Gaduridos joining us in the effort at their facilities in CdG, but won't do so until the Government of Gaduridos requests more ships."
The Foreign Minister said that the base division will continue on schedule. "We still have set a return date of November 12, 5741 as the return date for the Seaward side of Bentasur, also known as East Camp. That transfer remains on schedule. We continue to work with representatives of the Gaduri Ministry of Defense to make sure this transition remains on pace. The fact is, we promised to hand it back over, and even if the docks there only host five ships under Gaduri Flag, there are barracks, offices, and supply depots located there for them to do with as they please." The only thing that is delayed by the pull back by Gaduridos is the transfer of sovereignty over West Camp, or the Kalistani portion of the base. "That phase is on indefinite hold, until Gaduridos stands up its navy." The Foreign Minister suggested that be believed budgetary issues to be the main driver in the delay and expresses hope that those matters are ironed out in Gaduridos sooner, rather than later.
The Nationalist contingent in the National Assembly cheered the delay calling it an act of providence, while the Foreign Minister played off the celebration. "Bentasur is going back, that part is not up for debate. The only question, now, is when. And for the time being we shall remain committed to keeping our word and returning East Camp, while maintaining West Camp now becomes an ongoing concern once more." The Royal Family, currently at Playa de Paz, issued a comment suggesting that His Imperial Majesty, Emperor William II Ananto would prefer West Camp be restored to Gaduridos sooner rather than later, but also acknowledged the obvious security deficit which would be created by a restoration of sovereignty over the full base without corresponding Gaduri step up in security capacity.
@TheRepublic
Primary: Institutionalist Party of Kalistan (IPoK), 5146-
Inactive:
Socialist Party of Kalistan (SPoK), 2591-
Inactive:
Socialist Party of Kalistan (SPoK), 2591-