The rise of a great power: starting with military industry

"Liu, my friend, as you said, we are friends and our relationship is very friendly," said King Abdullah.

Although he has just ascended the throne as King of Saudi Arabia, Abdullah is definitely one of Saudi Arabia's true elite.

As the son of former King Abdul Aziz and half-brother of the late King Fahd, Abdullah received orthodox Islamic religious education when he was young. In 1964, at the age of 42, Abdullah served as the commander of the Saudi National Guard. After King Faisal was assassinated in 1975, he served as the second deputy prime minister. After King Khalid died in June 1982, Abdullah inherited the title of crown prince and served as the first deputy prime minister and commander of the National Guard.

It can be said that Abdullah has always been one of the most powerful people in Saudi Arabia.

After the death of former King Fahd, Abdullah inherited the throne and became the supreme leader of Saudi Arabia, holding the highest power of the royal family and the country.

Abdullah has a clear understanding of the world situation and what Saudi Arabia wants.

Saudi Arabia's strategies all revolve around Saudi Arabia's core interests.

As for the relationship between China and Saudi Arabia, it is more of a pragmatic diplomatic relationship. The two sides are based on interests and use interests as a bond.

Over the past 30 years, the relationship between the two sides has been developing stronger day by day.

Cooperation between the two sides is a real win-win situation.

Compared to the past, Saudi Arabia is undoubtedly much stronger now.

It was also from China that Saudi Arabia put into practice the saying: It is better to buy than to make!

It doesn’t matter if Saudi Arabia doesn’t have the technology and cannot produce it on its own. As long as it has money and gives enough money, it can buy everything from China.

Saudi Arabia was equipped with the third-generation main battle tanks, which are regarded as national weapons by Europe and the United States, in the 80s. Up to now, all of Saudi Arabia's main battle tanks are third-generation main battle tanks.

Europe and the United States regard advanced armored vehicles as related to national security. Saudi Arabia was also equipped with them in the 80s. Now Saudi Arabia has a variety of advanced armored vehicles.

The medium-range ballistic missiles, which Europe and the United States regard as national treasures, are not for sale and no one is willing to sell them no matter how much money is offered. Saudi Arabia bought them in the 80s and they were used for a walk at critical moments, with very good results.

Saudi Arabia has also been equipped with advanced air defense missile systems, which are regarded as treasures by Europe and the United States, for a long time. Now Saudi Arabia is equipped with a large number of Aegis series air defense missile systems. In terms of density, Saudi Arabia's air defense missile system deployment density ranks first in the world.

Saudi Arabia already has advanced warships that Europe and the United States regard as not for sale. It already has advanced light aircraft carriers, Type 054 frigates, Type 052 destroyers, Type 022 missile boats and Type 022A torpedo boats that have extremely strong deterrent power in the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf. Saudi Arabia is also equipped with more than ten Type 039 submarines, which are considered to be the most advanced conventional-powered submarines in the world.

Saudi Arabia's Air Force is equipped with a large number of advanced fighter jets, including a large number of J-10 fighter jets and J-11 fighter jets. These are all advanced third-generation fighter jets. According to the latest standards, they are fourth-generation combat capabilities.

Saudi Arabia attaches great importance to the strategic relationship with Saudi Arabia because the two sides have strong complementarity, which is true complementarity!

Moreover, China is the world's largest oil importer and Saudi Arabia's largest oil export destination.

The entire Southeast Asia, Japan, South Korea and most of South Asia are all imported from China and refined into finished oil for export to these places.

China needs oil, and stable oil, which is exactly what Saudi Arabia needs. And Saudi Arabia can buy almost everything it wants from China.

The satellites leased and purchased by Saudi Arabia are all from China.

Even Saudi Arabia will soon have its astronauts into space due to its cooperation with the Chinese Space Agency.

The two sides are highly complementary. Moreover, China's trade is real trade, even arms trade is just normal trade, and there are no other political or economic conditions attached.

The negotiations between the two parties were very pleasant.

The two sides then signed a package of cooperation projects.

For example, Saudi Arabia plans to build subways in Jeddah and other places, as well as two more high-speed railways. The total investment in this part is as high as more than one trillion yuan.

For example, Saudi Arabia plans to purchase a batch of passenger aircraft, including Y-10, Y-13, and C919.

The two sides once again issued a joint statement, expressing their willingness to continue working together to maintain world peace, promote regional peace and stability, and work together to resolve the economic crisis.

This joint statement covers all aspects.

Then in Riyadh, Liu Tao met with dignitaries from various countries to discuss various cooperation.

Some want to build subways, some want to build high-speed railways, some want to buy passenger planes, and some want to purchase weapons and equipment.
After staying in Riyadh for a total of five days, Liu Tao left Riyadh and arrived in Tehran on a special plane.

There has always been a pro-American force within Persia that wants to restore the former alliance between Persia and the United States. After all, in their view, Persia at that time was the best Persia.

Although Persia has recovered from the Iran-Iraq War over the years, made a lot of money from oil and natural gas, and built a powerful army by importing weapons and equipment, the arrival of this economic crisis has made life difficult for Persia.

Compared with Saudi Arabia and other countries with strong financial resources, Persia is financially poor. Money is needed in all aspects, but energy income has been greatly reduced.

Persia needs to rely on imports for many things, including food.

Over the years, Persia has industry, but it cannot be called an industrial country.

Before this, Persia lived a relatively good life relying on energy exports. However, since the sharp drop in energy prices, the money earned from energy exports is not even as much as the money spent, and it has been in a trade deficit for the past year.

Although Persia has been sanctioned, it has continued to send students to study abroad every year over the years. Although a large number of them go to China, some also go to Europe and the United States.

As the economic crisis breaks out in the United States and spreads to the world, reminiscent of the Great Depression of 1929, it is impossible for Bos to say that he is not worried.

Therefore, Persia once again began to consider developing nuclear weapons.

Persia began developing nuclear energy in the 20s. After the U.S. and Iran severed diplomatic ties in 50, the U.S. repeatedly accused Persia of secretly developing nuclear weapons under the guise of "peaceful use of nuclear energy" and adopted a "containment" policy against it. The International Atomic Energy Agency also made resolutions on the Iranian nuclear issue many times.

If Persia develops nuclear weapons, it will undoubtedly be against the interests of the United States. After all, the two sides have been in a state of hostility since the overthrow of the Pahlavi dynasty. Not only is the United States hostile to Persia, but Persia is also hostile to the United States.

Therefore, the United States has been taking various measures to curb Persia's development of nuclear weapons.

There is an extremely tenacious pro-American force within Persia. In addition to the force within the United States that wants to restore relations with Persia, there is also a powerful force that is hostile to Persia.

Many times, the two sides could not reach an agreement in their negotiations. Something would always happen internally, leading to the breakdown of the negotiations. (End of this chapter)