Lodamun

[imperialpearl]

In what has been dubbed as a major shift in defence policy, particularly as it pertained to the nation’s security relationship with Mordusia, Secretary of Defence Kristian Harding confirmed that following the 10-year sunset on its naval presence in Mordusia, the Lodamese Government would no longer proceed to renew/renegotiate a settlement to extend its stay and that the Lodamese Armed Forces and all supporting structures would withdraw their presence from the nation. The announcement came during an interview held at the Department of Defence building in Kensington wherein Secretary Harding sought to speak to the broader details of the “reorganisation” of the Lodamese Armed Forces’ operations throughout Terra. Naval Station Walbrook had been the centre of significant controversy between the Luthorian Commonwealth and the Anantonese Empire following a debacle surrounding basing rights. 

As Lodamun had operated the base prior to its ascension to the Anantonese Empire, it was initially believed that by virtue of its new association with the AE and Kalistan, a nation which had been previously hostile to nations of the Luthorian Commonwealth including Luthori and Mordusia, would thus have access to the base. The subsequent negotiation, led by numerous parties including officials from the Lodamese, Luthorian, Mordusian and Kalistani Governments, resulted in numerous changes to Lodamun’s relationship with Mordusia alongside numerous restrictions related to its presence in the south seleyan state. Principle among them, the introduction of a system wherein Lodamun’s presence in Mordusia would ultimately be up to the review of the Mordusian Government after a period of 10 years, alongside the complete withdrawal of the Lodamese Air Force from the nation. These changes ultimately resulted from a significant reduction in investment for Walbrook, which was supposed to be a major operations centre for Lodamese operations in Majatra, South Seleya and Southern Dovani.

At the press conference, Chairman of the Combined Chiefs Admiral Thomas Pierson revealed that the DoD’s internal assessment of the relative importance of the base in supporting the Lodamese Armed Forces operations in Majatra and Eastern Seleya/Southern Dovani had changed following an agreement with the government of Gaduridos and increased headways between Lodamun and Canrillaise states. Here, he noted that Lodamun’s continued support for Kafuristan, which had been facilitated via Mordusia through the Lodamese Air Force had been formally transferred to Aldegar in Naval Air Station Amsted. “As many of you would have known, since the change of protocol at Naval Station Walbrook, we have been conducting our operations to support Kafuristan against Istalia from Aldegar and have since shifted the vast majority of the supporting structures to Aldegar. Our internal assessment has concluded that as a result of the Lodamese Air Force’s removal from Walbrook, its importance in supporting our operations in the region has ultimately been reduced,” Adm. Pierson explained. 

Following the transition of Walbrook from a joint Naval/Air Station into a Naval Base, it had primarily hosted the operations of the Lodamese Coast Guard Southern Seleya and parts of South Dovani under Operation Bobcat. Coast Guard vessels would ultimately conduct their rotations at the base alongside refuelling and refitting should it be necessary. It was initially envisioned that the massive base would have hosted numerous facilities including submarine pens and a sizeable drydock facility for vessels to be repaired and potentially even built on the base itself. However, amidst the mandatory downsizing as ordered by the Mordusian Government, such projects alongside others were ultimately scrapped and the base became a mere port for the LCG’s operations as the Lodamese Navy presence (submarines) had been affected by the downsizing.

In not seeking an extension to the naval base and declaring their intentions to withdraw Lodamun’s military presence from the nation entirely, some have speculated that it would likely be followed by Lodamun’s withdrawal from the Lodamese-Mordusian Comprehensive Agreement on Security Cooperation, the document from which the base draws much of its legal basis from. Secretary Harding has noted that although Lodamun’s presence in Mordusia had effectively ended, it did not mean that both nations would formally end their decades-long security relationship. “We continue to view Mordusia as a close partner in security on the Seleyan continent. They continue to demonstrate a degree of maturity in security matters which is refreshing as compared to that of Luthori during the Migrant’s Pass crisis. To abandon this treaty and our relationship with that nation at this juncture is not something which is being considered by this administration,” Harding explained. 

The Lodamese Navy is expected to launch P-8 maritime patrol aircraft from Gaduridos via an airbase maintained by the Gaduri Armed Forces in Marligantos. Basing from Marligantos would ultimately provide the Lodamese Navy with much-needed range into Southern Seleya and the western approaches of Southern Dovani (if assisted by refuelling aircraft). The Lodamese Coast Guard is also expected to operate from the Marligantos from a Gaduri Navy maintained naval base. The LN has expressed interest in taking up additional responsibilities for littoral patrols throughout the Seleyan continent, to support the LCGs operations.