Lodamun

[imperialpearl]

Having refrained from commenting on the new “regime” governing the Migrant’s Pass,  largely out of a broader respect for the initial effort which went into make the 3 Points Federation possible, the Harrington Company has seemingly caught on to the fact that the framework places them at a unique disadvantage. The collapse of the Beiteynu-led order in Majatra following the nation’s internal implosion has brought with it a new scramble for power and influence, as nations attempt to occupy the space wherein Yishelem once governed over vast amounts of wealth and influence. Of the many structures erected under the former Beiteynu-led order, the 3 Points Federation stood out as one of particular note. Borne out of the Migrant Accords between Beiteynu and Narikaton/Darnussia, the 3PF had been initially established as the principal structure responsible for governing all matters related to the Migrant’s Pass, ranging from trade to defence. Although for much of its infancy, it had existed largely in the shadow of more prominent agreements such as the Yishelhafen Pact, the Migrant Accords and the 3PF came into their own around the latter half of the 5550’s. 

During this time, and largely motivated by the fact that the vast majority of the nation’s crucial rare earth minerals trade flowed through the strait, Lodamese Armed Forces, more specifically the Lodamese Navy and Air Force, enhanced forward deployments to the region. What followed became known within Lodamun as the Migrant’s Pass Conundrum, wherein a series of geostrategic moves by both Lodamun and Beiteynu dramatically transformed the concept of peace within the pass itself. Although the situation led to a major restructuring of the Lodamese Armed Forces towards expeditionary warfare, a fact which remains true to this day, it also transformed how the nation and by extension the Harrington Company interacted with the various actors present within the area. Although the nation’s rare earth minerals trade with Vascania had largely existed in the background of the conundrum, crises’ aftermath proved to both sides (Beiteynu and Lodamun) the importance of the strait to global trade and the broader global economy. Reforms to the 3PF had been initiated by Narikaton and Darnussia, who were bothered by the ever-intensifying grandstanding between Kensington and Yishelem, and sought to impose an order within the strait which would be governed and guaranteed by all actors with a stake in the area itself.

Then Merchant-General Charlotte Farr, revealed an otherwise difficult truth which had come to inform the Narikaton/Darnussian-led order in the Migrant’s Pass: buy-in was essential. She underscored that in contrast to the Beiteynu/Yishelem-led order, the government in Bannerhafen recognised the importance of ensuring that any structure imposed on the strait itself would be both recognised and in turn, defended by all involved parties. In her memoir, “Swan Song,” former MG Farr notes: “Lodamun had been encouraged to join the reformed Migrant Accords to ensure buy-in by a nation that had traditionally hedged its policy on the idea of unrestricted movement through the pass itself. Even going as far as to openly court a potentially devastating military confrontation. It is this understanding that sets Bannerhaffen aside from Yishelem.” Amidst the news of the imposition of new regime within the Migrant’s Pass, recently appointed Merchant-General Hank Wexler stated that the Harrington Company was not interested in adhering to a regime which, unlike its predecessor, had been born out of an inherent thirst for power and influence.

In April 5631, the Selucian Government declared that it would be imposing a dramatically modified regime to govern trade and the movement of shipping through the pass. Under this new regime, a policy of tariffs would be imposed on foreign trade flowing through the pass to ensure “no other nation becomes richer and powerful at our [3PF] expense.” At a press conference held at the Quarter Building in Harrington, MG Wexler stated that the unnegotiated regime imposed by the Selucian Government abandoned the otherwise cooperative spirit of the Bannerhaffen-supervised Migrant Accords and represented a ‘flagrant’ disregard of the policy of buy-in championed by Narikaton and Darnussia. The tariff regime as imposed by the Selucian Government provides for exemptions for direct members (those nations specifically listed in the treaty), a 50% discount on fess for non-direct ratifying nations and a 25% discount on fees for allies of direct members. As argued by the Selucian Government, the regime had been structured to “encourage” nations to adhere to the new regime and thus access its supposed ‘benefits’.

MG Wexler stated that although the HC had remained largely silent and in some instances cooperative to the new regime, such a policy would be terminated. “The Harrington Company is not interested in the games being played by the government in Selucia. We have long articulated our interests in the regime and have set aside our historic indifferences with Beiteynu (now Amudim) and Narikaton and Darnussia and have traditionally been a respectful partner in the pass ever since. To impose this new regime without consultation, and expect buy-in among states is simply emblematic of the ineptitude which has become common place to politics in Selucia,” MG Wexler noted. Accordingly, Wexler has ordered that vessels of the Harrington Company seemingly ignore the regime and attempt to move through the “maritime barrier” established by the Selucian Navy as he noted that the HC’s assessment of Selucia’s control of the pass itself was ‘tenuous’. MG Wexler’s comments did not come alone, as it had been matched/augmented by statements from both Secretary of State Wilbur McFadden and Secretary of Defence Todd Cummings who warned against attempts to board or impound Harrington Company ships. “These vessels have been given their orders to avoid docking in Selucian ports and have also been urged to reach out to our base in Malivia should it become clear that they might be boarded by the Selucian Navy as part of the enforcement of this regime,” Secretary Cummings proclaimed. When asked as to whether the administration intended to re-establish active naval escorts through the pass, Secretary Cummings stated that it was one of the many options currently being discussed with President George Menkyn.