Re: Lodamun
Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2024 1:35 am
“In the concert of nations, Baltusia has a friend in Lodamun,” remarked Secretary of State Jennifer Toule at a press conference standing alongside Baltusian President Phillip McKinney. Secretary Toule, accompanied by Merchant-General Adam Runt, are currently in Baltusia, where alongside negotiating a new lasting relationship between the two nations concerning diplomacy and trade, will undoubtedly hope to formalise a paternal bond between the two nations. In underscoring the cultural and historical similarities between the two states, Secretary Toule noted that it was only natural that the two nations come to a common understanding. On the surface, Lodamun and Baltusia, although neighbours, maintain little to no diplomatic contact beyond the Luthorian Commonwealth, which for the most part acts as an intermediary between the two nations. Although consular services are rendered to the citizens of the respective nations, both lack formal embassies and treaties codifying the current diplomatic environment. In using the historic visit as an opportunity to address numerous challenges endemic to both nations, Secretary Toule noted that although there was an argument to be made surrounding whether both nations maintained similar views related to the Lodamese State Department’s pivot to “kinship”. Pointing to Lodamun’s relationship with Kalistan, Secretary Toule stated that such a relationship should and can become the framework for a more dynamic relationship between Lodamun and Baltusia. “Both our nations maintain an inherent interest in the ideas of democratic rule, peace and order within the Seleyan continent. We share similar views related to regional integration and cooperation. It would be remiss of us to continue to put off forming a much stronger relation with a nation which we considered a “like-minded” state for something else,” Secretary Toule explained. Beyond diplomacy, Merchant-General Adam Runt met with Baltusian Secretary of Trade and Industry Jarl Hanssen and numerous representatives of the Baltusian business community. He lamented that although both nations share an easily accessible land border, trade between the two nations has collapsed within recent years as Lodamese consumers have seemingly lost interest in Baltusian exports. Prior to now, Baltusian imports accounted for around 8% of all Lodamese imports, with products ranging from manufactured parts to raw goods/materials, however amidst the emergence of Lodamun’s deeper relationship with Kalistan and Lourenne, this share has collapsed to around 3%. As both nations experience otherwise shaky starts to their respective economic recoveries, MG Runt stated that there was room to transform the two nations’ precarious trade situation into an extremely beneficial arrangement. Via a press release issued moments after, MG Runt floated the idea of a customs union between the two states, pointing to such a model’s broad success in other territories, particularly in Dovani, Artania and Majatra. He noted that in the absence of a formal regional free trade agreement for the Seleyan continent, Lodamun and Baltusia could be the potential foundation upon which a future arrangement flows. “Both our economies are demonstrating a moment which can become the foundation for prosperity throughout the continent. A customs union, an arrangement much closer than what exists between Lodamun and Kalistan is the only sensible step forward,” MG Runt proclaimed. According to Secretary Toule, although not a major focal point of the visit, the Director of National Assessments Edward Walsh reportedly met with numerous officials within the Baltusian security and intelligence community including the Federal Investigation Bureau (FIB) and the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB). It has been speculated that the nature of the meeting centred around closer cooperation between Lodamese and Baltusian law enforcement agencies, particularly the Lodamese National Investigations Bureau (NIB) and the Bureau of Firearms and Control (BFC) maintain wariness related to Baltusia’s now-illegal paramilitary organisations.