A historic hesitation to involve, let alone approach one of Kensington’s closest geostrategic partners in the border affairs of the continent has largely resulted in the nation being overlooked, especially with respect to the ever-expanding role being taken by Lodamun in Seleyan affairs. The nation has, for the most part, distanced itself from much of the continent’s wider geopolitical events, only rearing its head when it became clear that the moves of largely external actors may jeopardise their otherwise pedestrian relation to Seleyan affairs. “They’ve largely acted as an onlooker to some of this continent’s and potentially the world’s most significant events, ranging from the Canal Crisis to the Hubris War. And yet, they have remained one of the continent’s most relevant states.” Political turmoil in Eroncourt, coupled with uninspiring overtures toward calm and normalcy from the Canrillaise states, threatens the continent’s long-established peace; a peace which had been largely maintained via the allure of Lourenne’s “arms-reach” presence. Secretary of State Ester Kenly, Secretary of Defence Edward Mears and Director of National Assessments David Cord are expected to travel to Kaliburg, Kalistan where they are set to meet with numerous key figures within Kalistan’s political and security/intelligence communities. Against the backdrop of the State Department’s broader strategy for the Seleyan continent in the post-Lourenne era, Whitehall Press Secretary Nicole Spencer noted that the visit would likely bring to the surface numerous discussions which were once held behind closed doors, owing to the otherwise sensitive nature of their content. “Our relationship with Kalistan has historically been built on the idea of trust and we intend to strengthen that relationship moving forward,” Spencer said. “There are numerous discussions we [Whitehall] have been having with the government in Kaliburg for decades and in some instances centuries. The changing serious dilemma on the continent necessitates that we speak frankly about the numerous challenges we face today.”
Via a joint press statement issued moments prior to their departure, Secretary Kenly confirmed that prior discussions with her counterpart in Kaliburg had resulted in a heightened sense of awareness towards the potential for meddling by extra-regional entities in the continent’s affairs. Recently Kalistani Foreign Minister Jacqueline DuMont noted that Lourenne’s potential withdrawal from the region would undoubtedly result in a resurgence of Luthorian interest on the continent. “Luthori has made it very clear that their motivation is to check Kalistan in Seleya,” she noted. Although Luthori and Lodamun remain extremely close partners in relations to security, the latter’s withdrawal from the Commonwealth structure ultimately severed most economic ties which had existed between the two nations by virtue of the Commonwealth treaty. For the better half of a decade, the Ross Administration has dodged the question of whether Lodamun would rejoin the Commonwealth group, with most questions to Kenly often being either segwayed or ignored outright. As a result of this clandestine divorce, Luthorian-Lodamese relations largely exist through the Luthorian-Lodamese Defence Agreement which governs their joint defence relationship. Secretary Kenly noted that insofar as Kensington was concerned Luthori’s presence on the continent, largely enabled by Mordusia and potentially Likatonia was a “non-issue”. Here she underscored that the historic grievances between Luthori and Kalistan ought to be settled between the two states themselves, as both nations possessed “rationale” and “competent” governments. “We are aware of Kalistan’s concerns related to Luthori’s presence on the continent and we are of the view that both nations, possessing rationale and competent governments, will not be drawn to blows. Our policy on Luthorian military presence in Lodamun remains the same as it has been for the past century: temporary accommodations, no permanent basing,” Secretary Kenly’s statement read. Accompanying Secretary Kenly would be Lodamun’s new Ambassador to Kalistan, John Edmiston.
Secretary Mears explained that Lodamun’s security relationship with Kalistan will undoubtedly become the centre-piece of the nation’s broader Seleyan strategy. With recent years, the Kalistani military has undergone significant transformations, all squarely aimed at enhancing their warfighting capabilities. Lodamun has naturally supported its initiatives primarily through training/exercises. A lack of movement by Lourenne to demonstrate to the wider world that it is capable of a steady transition has made the situation in the Anantonese Sea all the more concerning. As the continent lacks a comprehensive, continental security agreement much of the work related to establishing secure channels of trade largely lies on nations within Seleya itself. “It is our belief that Kalistan is more than capable of bringing hardware to bear in the Anantonese Sea, recognising that it has been a historically contested space as a direct result of its Strait policy. Lodamun is prepared to continue to assist Kalistan in building out infrastructure not just for the defence of the nation itself but for North Seleya as a whole,” Secretary Mears noted. Mears is expected to meet with his Kalistani counterpart Col. Martin Jackson where Mears will seek out a more concrete security relationship with Kaliburg. It is expected that a re-examination of the question of basing in Ananto will be broached, as such an arrangement would give the Lodamese Armed Forces much-needed range into eastern seleya, where much of the LAF’s momentum seems to be oriented towards. The Strategic Defence Agency, the agency responsible for missile defence in Lodamun, is likely to forge a new alliance with the Kalistani defence establishment. The SDA has long maintained ambitions towards a continental missile defence and radar network, which would provide Seleya with a much-needed capacity to defend against missile threats and to track the movement of potential adversaries throughout the various physical domains.
DNA Cord’s involvement in the visit is likely to focus primarily on intelligence-sharing, which the Kalistani Government has noted will become a major feature of their relationship with Lodamun moving forward. Baltusia’s turn towards syndicalism, although not of major concern to the NIB and thus Lodamun, is likely to bring Lodamun’s security and intelligence community closer to their Kalistani counterparts. Inclusive of the NIB, the Bureau of Firearms and Control, the Strategic Services Agency, and the Government Cryptography Office have all expressed willingness to share information with Kalistani authorities, even as the nation sits outside the CISA (Common Intelligence Sharing Agreement). Historically, Lodamese intelligence sharing has been restricted to nations which are full members of the agreement owing to the often sensitive nature of the information shared. This was evidenced in the ongoing challenges with sharing intelligence/information with Luthori which exists outside of the CISA, but which has been encouraged to ratify the agreement. “Kalistan sits in a sort of special place in the eyes of Kensington. It does not believe that sharing information with Kaliburg would ultimately jeopardise Lodamun’s position. The CISA stands as a bulwark against Lodamese information finding itself in the hands of potential adversaries, and thus the Office of the Director of National Assessments, which manages the CISA, has always been extremely careful with whom Lodamun shares information with,” Jasper Wiley, a former intelligence analyst for the SSA said. Director of the Bureau of Naval Intelligence, Rear. Adm. Candace Peters is also accompanying DNA Cord where she is expected to sign an agreement with the Kalistani defence establishment which would grant them full access to the Lodamese Navy’s acoustic library. For the better half of a century, the Lodamese Navy through the SOSUS (sound surveillance system) network operated alongside the Dolgavan Navy, has been gathering acoustic signatures of various ships moving through the Karzon Strait and the Sea of Deliverance. Although the details surrounding the extent of the library, some sources have noted that they have collected acoustic signatures on Beiteynuese, Lourennais and Luthorian warships (and potentially submarines) among others. “Notwithstanding the work, Kalistan is doing now to build out a similar capability of its own in the Anantonese, access to our acoustic library will be essential in giving Kalistan a much-needed edge over potential adversaries,” RADM. Peters explained.