Lodamun

[imperialpearl]

Commander of the Lodamese Armed Forces Majatran Command (MAJCOM), Admiral Jonathan Whitney, is reportedly enroute to Auroria, alongside the Merchant-General of the Harrington Company Hank Wexler, where the two are expected to meet with the nation’s two consuls and other key figures. According to Whitehall Press Secretary Evan Morris, the meeting is likely to cover numerous areas of contention between Lodamun and Selucia, principally the issue related to the Migrants Pass. Since Selucia’s initial imposition of a new tariff regime in the Migrants Pass to significant international backlash, the nation has since recinded the tariff regime, yet its maritime barrier remains. In a bold statement issued earlier this morning, MG Wexler stated that the Harrington Company was not interested in adhering to what it believed was a regime imposed on the broader international community without due consultation, especially with those states that have had a historic role in the region due to trade and other affairs. The Migrants Pass’ significance to Lodamun cannot be understated as it is the principal means through which the nation imports rare-earth minerals from Vascania; rare-earth minerals which are essential for the nation’s burgeoning semiconductor sector. “Lodamun has demonstrated time and time again that it will respect any and all structures throughout the globe, as long as it does not place it at an inherent disadvantage. We saw that during the first conundrum within the MP with Beiteynu and we are potentially seeing that again,” Patrick Ortiz, a geopolitical strategist from the Centre for Geostrategic Policy and Research.

Although the tariff regime has seemingly collapsed, according to some Selucian sources (yet this has not been officially confirmed by the Selucian Government), Admiral Whitney maintains that the Lodamese Armed Forces and the Harrington Company require significant guarantees that the Selucian “maritime patrols” supposedly being conducted within the MP as an extension of the new regime within the 3PF will not disrupt the movement of Lodamese shipping, be they civilian and/or military. An Expeditionary Action Group has been dispatched to the region to augment existing Lodamese forces based in the area, which led many to believe that both Admiral Whitney and MG Wexler’s visit to Selucia is an attempt to calm the situation before it spirals out of control. “Notwithstanding our clearly articulated policy, what we are looking for here are guarantees that when our ships move through this area, they will not be harassed by Selucian ships,” Admiral Whitney said during a brief press conference prior to their departure. Whitney noted that the Lodamese Navy, which continues to conduct patrols within the MP via long-range maritime patrol drones and aircraft, has always been in support of nations being able to exercise their inherent freedoms of navigation, especially in international waters. He reiterated that the sudden apprehension towards military traffic moving through the region is particularly unfounded, granted that a peace has existed in the region up to Selucia’s takeover of the 3PF, as he noted that the Lodamese Navy has historically conducted itself in an extremely responsible fashion. “Our forces have always acted with a great deal of responsibility, and I think that for the Selucian Government to suddenly clutch its pearls at the sight of military ships moving through the area as being completely unnecessary,” Admiral Whitney explained.

MG Wexler stated that the very idea of Harrington Company and, by extension, Lodamun having to adhere to the new regime, even when one considers the fact that Lodamun was a party to the 3PF agreement prior to Selucia, would be off the table. “As I have said before, we are seeking the restoration of the previous N&D-led order, which provided a fair means for all nations involved in the Migrants Pass. We [Lodamun] have no intention of courting military engagements with the Selucian Navy in such a crucial artery for global trade. We have always maintained that our primary concerns within the area are related to trad,e and our security stance has always been in support of that. It is my hope that when we sit with Selucia’s Consuls that we can come to a mutually beneficial agreement.” MG Wexler explained. Some analysts have speculated that should Admiral Whitney and MG Wexler fail to bring about a “change in terms” within the MP, that it could lead to military action, especially as the EAG Malivia (Expeditionary Action Group Malivia) approaches the area from their routine maintenance schedule in Portswood.