Chapter 515: Gulf Countries' Countermeasures

Five million dollars is definitely not a small number! However, in the month when he was inspected here, the international oil price has risen by 20 dollars per barrel. The crude oil in his tanker has increased by tens of millions of dollars! However, if he can't transport it out, it will still be a problem. If the oil price drops again, he will suffer a big loss.

So, at the company's instruction, Captain Hilton embarked on this path.

The Soviet bureaucracy was very dark, and too many people accepted bribes. Although General Andrei, who was in front of him, was very tough in supporting reforms and had fought against many corrupt officials, Hilton did not believe that this guy would look down on the five million dollars.

Sure enough, after receiving the bank card, Andre's expression became quite friendly. He looked at Hilton and said, "I already know about this matter. After you return to the ship, make some preparations. We can complete the inspection items tonight."

"Yes, thank you General Andre." Hilton nodded and walked out.

Five million dollars! Holding this bank card, Andre's face was full of smiles. Now, there is another way to make money. Wouldn't it be better if a toll station was built directly in the Strait of Hormuz?

I didn't build this road, and I didn't plant this tree, but if you want to pass this road, you must leave money to buy your way through! However, doing so is still too ostentatious and will easily cause greater public outrage, so Andre rejected this idea.

However, with so many ships now, it is time to release a batch of them. It depends on who among them is filial. Of course, this matter is not considered a violation of regulations. Just tell the old man. The money should be handed over to the national treasury, or directly used as the Turkestan Military District's small treasury?

Thinking of this, Andrei picked up the phone: "Connect me to Moscow."

Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia, a big country in the Middle East, is located on the Arabian Peninsula in southwestern Asia. It borders the Persian Gulf to the east and the Red Sea to the west. It borders Jordan, Iraq, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Yemen and other countries.

This is a veritable "oil kingdom" with the largest oil reserves and production in the world. At the same time, Saudi Arabia is also the country with the most say in the entire Middle East. In front of other MSL brothers, Saudi Arabia has always acted like a big brother.

The current Saudi Arabia was founded by King Abdul Aziz bin Abdul Rahman Al Saud. Abdul Aziz led a team from Kuwait, where his family had taken refuge, to recapture Riyadh from the hostile Rashid family. Later, they conquered the two territories of Najd and Hijaz.

In 1926, Abdul-Aziz became the king of the territory he ruled. After that, Saudi Arabia officially broke away from British rule and became independent. Since this era, Saudi Arabia has always pursued a strategy of getting close to the West and following the position of the United States on many issues.

In several Middle East wars, Saudi Arabia provided manpower and financial resources, and even collectively boycotted the Western world. The entire Middle East countries seemed to have come together, but in fact, the Middle East is still a mess, and its opponent Israel is becoming increasingly powerful.

Now, faced with recent problems, Saudi Arabia, as a major power in the Middle East, can no longer sit still. King Khalid personally presided over and convened an important meeting on the entire Middle East situation. Representatives from various countries attended the meeting.

"The Persian Gulf is our golden waterway, and the Strait of Hormuz is our indispensable outlet. But now, this outlet is blocked by the Soviets. The Soviets have occupied Iran, seriously threatening the security of our countries along the Persian Gulf." Although King Khalid convened the meeting in person, the main speaker of the meeting was Khalid's younger brother Fahd.

This is an important meeting that concerns the fate of the Gulf countries. How to deal with the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz?

"Yes, these days, our crude oil output is almost zero. Our country can no longer bear such losses. We must come up with a proper plan." Kuwaiti Oil Minister Ali Khalifa Sabah said: "We propose that we ask the US Navy to escort us."

Kuwait is the most anxious one because their oil tankers have been detained and cannot pass through the Strait of Hormuz. Kuwait has no other choice except to transport by sea.

Kuwait also has the best relationship with the United States. After all, much of Kuwait's oil wealth is invested in the West, and the United States accounts for a large part of it. Now, when Kuwait faces practical difficulties, the first thing it thinks of is the United States.

Asking for American warships to escort? Fahd shook his head: "The current Carter administration is a soft egg. They will never conflict with the Soviet Union for us. We have to wait until Reagan takes office, and then they may be tougher. We must think of other ways."

Saudi Arabia is completely disappointed with the Carter administration. Such a government is simply incapable of shouldering the obligations of a great power like the United States!

"It seems that we can only find a solution ourselves." The UAE's oil minister said: "Perhaps we can consider building an oil pipeline through Saudi Arabia, avoiding the Persian Gulf and going directly to the Red Sea."

Saudi Arabia has a vast territory, with the Persian Gulf to the east and the Red Sea to the west. Another option now is to go out to the sea through the Red Sea, which is absolutely beyond the control of the Soviet Union.

"It will take at least one or two years to build an oil pipeline, but our oil exports cannot wait that long. If this continues, oil prices will definitely continue to rise," said Ali.

"Everyone." At this time, a man came in from outside. He walked straight into the meeting room and said as he walked: "I think the current situation is very good. What harm will the rising oil prices do to us? Our underground oil resources are limited. Letting the West obtain our oil resources cheaply is simply blasphemy against the true God!"

Everyone was stunned. The Iraqi Minister of Oil has arrived!

Although this meeting was to discuss the situation facing the Persian Gulf, the Iraqi Minister of Oil was not invited. Everyone knows what is going on. Iraq is now in cahoots with the Soviet Union. All the Gulf countries are worried, but Iraq is not, because Iraq's crude oil transport ships can move unimpeded!

But now, the Iraqi oil minister came uninvited and concealed his whereabouts all the way until he entered the meeting room. When he barged in domineeringly, even the security guards outside did not stop him.