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News > Politics > World > Cordilia
New Premier Ferrant announces Viridian military expansion
By Nelia Meyer, 19 February 2025
Premier Ferrant has wasted no time in his first weeks as the new political leader of Viridia. Already the 55-year old political center-left reformer has acted on his promises to strengthen Viridia’s geostrategic relations with key partners. First on the list was of course the ancestral homeland of Stoinia, but it was soon followed by a fellow former colony Shai Kong. Aside from trade agreements between government-owned companies to protect vital industries, the Premier has made preliminary agreements to purchase new military equipment and domestically produce the LA SF-44 ‘SkyFury’ fighters alongside securing Viridian component suppliers for the SkyFury Program. All this within the context of an elaborate military expansion program as the war between the neighbouring Kraunanagaz and Zuhlgan seems to reach to a close.
The continuing war has disturbed the Viridian economy as many companies and investors omitted the Transcrabrian Sea in favour of passage through Crabry’s free trade nations such as the TCC and Esfalsa. However, with the outbreak of the TCC civil war, investors are gaining trust again in Viridia’s maintained neutrality and new military expansion. During the electoral campaigns, Premier Ferrant has pleaded to pump up Viridia’s military expenditure to at least 5% equivalent to an increase to an of $15.7 billion. The additional 36 LA SF-44’s are currently estimated at around $12.9 billion of said budget. However, these expenditures still have to be approved by Viridia’s Congressional Courts.
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The opposition has already critiqued the proposed purchase calling it a ‘gross overinvestment’ into a specific military field. Especially now with the recent earthquake that devastated rural Viridia, many call for Ferrant’s administration to instead redirect that money to reconstruction efforts. Although untimely communicated, Premier Ferrant’s Cabinet has supported the decision to invest in new advanced military hardware calling it “essential assets to modernise our security capabilities”. Minister of Defense has pointed out that instances where several shells and non-Viridian airplanes reached across the border. Premier Ferrant stated: “Although neutral, we must guarantee to both our citizens and the world that Viridia has the means to ensure its own neutrality through armed neutrality. Especially with no promises of a continued ceasefire between our warring neighbours.”
Although militant leftist have called Premier Ferrant a betrayer of left-wing ideals, he is still adamant about his economic reforms to support the Viridian economy that has suffered. However, he wasn’t afraid to hit back at them saying that: “The unconvincing neutrality of former Premier Pardo has damaged our nation’s economy more than the recent earthquake. With free trade flowing through Viridia again, we will recuperate. But to do so we must reassure the world of our secured place under the Sun.” Additionally, the Premier has already promised a reconstruction package will come as well and he has mobilised the military in aid efforts to clean up the aftermath of the natural disasters. Despite some political backlash, many experts agree that the Premier’s governing coalition will have no problem to proceed with Premier Ferrant’s plans. Although some speculate that this is Ferrant’s first step to a more prominent international role.