A narrow, green eye-shade consideration on if we should do another BRAC should take a back seat to long-term national security requirements. A front row seat must be given to the historical truth that the next war is coming, even if the “when” is masked. While politics can shift and be short term focused almost as often as friends, alliances, and threats morph – there is one thing that is almost constant; geography. The rarest breed of that constant is waterfront.
From Long Beach to Charleston, the impact of the post-Cold War BRAC still haunt any plan for future major-war increases in out Fleet – but we are not alone.
From Sweden we have a solid lesson about what can happen when you give up your waterfront inheritance. In the rush to re-militarize their frontline island Gotland as history has returned with an attitude, they’ve run in to a spot of bother.
Translated from the original Swedish to English by google and slightly improved by your humble blogger;
The Russian oligarch Vladimir Antonov wants to buy a submarine port on Gotland, according to Dagens Industri .
At the same time the Swedish state in negotiations to buy back the port.– We have a need for the port, said Philip Simon, Head of the Armed Forces.
Marine shipyard with submarine harbor in Fårösund on Gotland is for sale. Among the speculators are the Swedish state.
– We have given Fortifikationsverket commissioned to acquire the port, said Philip Simon, Head of the Armed Forces. But according to Dagens Industri, Russian billionaire Vladimir Antonov and another foreign company also want it.
Dagens Industri reporter Gustaf Tapper has talked with the owner of the port, Joachim Kuylenstierna.
– The decision will be made in next week, as the offer can expire. I can not let the other stakeholders wait, says Kuylenstierna.The current submarine harbor was a strategic part of Sweden’s defense during the Cold War.
…
2004, all parliamentary parties agreed to scrap the island’s defense infrastructure and Joachim Kuylenstierna bought the plant for 18 million kronor … He has owned it since then and was offering it for sale at the end of last year. And now Fortifications Agency and the Armed Forces and the defense then buy the port.
– We have a need for it, says Philip Simon.
Can you elaborate on what the need is about?
– No, I will not go into it in detail.Among the interested buyers are also two foreign companies. It is confirmed by Kuylenstierna, but he would not say which countries the companies are in.
…
But according to Dagens Industri sources is concerned with Vladimir Antonov, whose company wants to pay 82 million kronor, which Kuylenstierna itself should have stated in the negotiations.Antonov in Sweden is best known for having tried to take over Saab Automobile. However, he was stopped by Fredrik Reinfeldt’s government and General Motors when questioned Antonov business and contacts.
2011 Lithuania also issued a European arrest warrant on Antonov. It was made as a result of suspicions about disagreements in the bank Snoras, according Di.
According to the DI offers the third bidder, also a foreign company, with 65 million. That’s significantly more than those between 10 and 15 million Swedish Fortifications Agency and the Armed Forces believe that the port, which, according to Di cost half a billion to build, is the host.
Johan Danielsson, Press Manager at the Swedish Fortifications Agency, allows Di to state sold cheaply harbor in 2004.
– That’s what many are outraged – to sell cheaply and then buying back expensive. We had to sell at a very cheap price to the government demanded it, he says to Di.
Strategic real estate. Always keep that in mind.
