Lodamun

[imperialpearl]

On the second leg of his international tour, Merchant-General Hank Wexler arrived in Altea, Egelion, accompanied by Secretary of State William Tillman and Secretary of Defence Roy Baker, for a series of meetings with their Egelian counterparts on a broad range of issues, including trade and security cooperation. Lodamun’s relationship with Egelion up to this point can be said to be “cordial,” as although both nations are not party to a bilateral diplomatic/trade agreement, there nonetheless exists minor forms of communication between the two, largely facilitated through Lodamun’s Embassies in Kalistan and Dolgava. Wexler, in a press statement issued prior to his departure for Egelion from Kalistan, stated that it was important for Lodamun to establish a clear and mutually beneficial relationship with Egelion, recognising the latter's growing importance in the geopolitics of the Anantonese Ocean and the broader global political economy. 

He noted that although there had been animosity between Kalistan and Egelion, which had ultimately spilt over as specificism in Kensington as to Altea’s broader global intentions, with Lodamun untethered from the Anantonese Empire, it nonetheless provides an opportunity for Egelion to be viewed from “another angle”. MG Wexler noted that in meetings with High Councillor Formoselle and Royal Councillor Montalivet, he intended to iron out a major, long-term crude oil supply agreement. Egelion has made idisian leaps towards rationalising its crude oil sector, and the nation’s relative proximity to Lodamun provides the Harrington Company, Federal Repositories and the State of Berkwaki with a unique opportunity to import energy from a not-too-distant source. With the Menkyn Administration keen to refocus the federal government’s efforts towards supporting Berkwaki’s downstream petrochemicals sector, a new avenue for energy imports will be needed as Lodamun continues to position itself as one of the largest importers of crude oil and natural gas in the world.

Beyond the energy and free trade agreements, Secretary Baker stated that he intended to meet with Royal Councillor Montalivet to discuss potential areas for defence/security cooperation between Egelion and Lodamun. Although Lodamun’s relationship with the Kersian region has been principally predicated by its long-standing relationship with Dolgava, as was noted previously, security in Keris and environs is Lodamun’s business. “I wholeheartedly reject the notion that Lodamun does not have a role to play in Keris. Although by no means do we intend on becoming involved in the internal affairs of those nations, security and stability on the sub-continent is important to us here in Kensington,” Secretary Baker said in a press statement prior to his departure for Altea. Some of the potential areas for cooperation between Lodamun and Egelion range from establishing clear lines of communication to avoid military miscalculations, joint collaboration in addressing security matters on the continent as they arise, and intelligence-sharing between the Lodamese and Egelion security and intelligence communities. Director of National Assessments, Dr Kate Agness, stated that given Egelion’s growing involvement in global affairs, it was nonetheless important that the Lodamese security and intelligence community establish a productive relationship with their Egelian counterparts.