The rise of a great power: starting with military industry

Chapter 328 Kuwait’s Sense of Crisis

Kuwait.

A tiny country located in a corner of the Middle East.

However, Kuwait is known as the Pearl of the Gulf.

All this is because of the huge wealth under Kuwait: oil!
As a typical Middle Eastern region, Kuwait's climate is between desert climate and Mediterranean climate. There is no oasis like Iraq in the whole territory, which is all desert plains interspersed with some hills. There are no rivers or lakes, only endless deserts. The climate is extremely hot and dry, and temperatures above 50 degrees Celsius are very common. There is very little rainfall and fresh water is extremely scarce.

It is almost impossible to grow food in Kuwait in this climate.

Kuwaitis supported themselves primarily through coastal activities such as fishing and pearling until the discovery of oil.

The land of Kuwait is literally floating on oil. The proven oil reserves account for 10% of the world's total oil reserves. Moreover, the oil layers are very shallow, with the shallowest being only 1,500 meters. The oil pressure is very high, and there is no need for an oil pump. As long as a hole is drilled, the oil will spray out by itself. This is the so-called high-yield self-gushing crude oil. Therefore, after Kuwait entered the oil age, its economy began to develop rapidly.

However, in the beginning, Kuwait was a colony and its sovereignty was not complete. Therefore, in the beginning, the oil exploration agreement signed with foreign oil companies stipulated that only 1 cents of tax should be paid to the Kuwaiti government for every ton of crude oil extracted. Foreign oil companies rushed to explore and invest there. From the end of World War II to 90, the British and American "Kuwait Petroleum Company" monopolized all crude oil production in Kuwait. Huge profits were seized by these companies.

It was not until 1962 that Kuwait finally got rid of colonial rule and became a monarchy, with the Emir as the head of state. The position of head of state can only be inherited by the descendants of Mubarak Sabah.

As a result, Kuwait has lived a prosperous life. Relying on oil, Kuwait can obtain a large amount of foreign exchange every year and make a lot of money and profits.

Kuwait is also one of the five founding members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).

Kuwait's daily oil production is about 300 million barrels. At the current price of $35 per barrel, it can earn $1.05 million from oil exports every day. In fact, it can earn $383.25 billion from oil exports in a year, which is more than double China's total annual exports.

The population of Kuwait is about 165 million, which means that just relying on oil revenue, without doing anything, the per capita GDP exceeds 2.3, making it a truly developed country in the world.

Kuwait, like other oil-producing countries such as Saudi Arabia and Iraq, has implemented high social welfare.

Emir Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah was facing a headache at this time.

Others would be excited and even celebrate wildly because Iraq had successively annihilated two Persian tank armored divisions.

But he was worried.

Since Kuwait's independence, the Iraqi government has been looking for various opportunities to annex Kuwait, and has even threatened to invade Kuwait more than once. The invasion was finally avoided after the Arab League planned to form an international Arab force to oppose Iraq's actions in Kuwait. When the Iran-Iraq War broke out, Kuwait supported Iraq and used this method to show its attitude that we are all Arab brothers and are one family. If Iraq wants to expand, it should go to Persia. Kuwait is a good Arab brother and fully supports Iraq.

But now, Ahmed is worried that if Saddam becomes more ambitious, he will take action against Kuwait.

Compared with Iraq, Kuwait is undoubtedly weak.

The total strength of Kuwait is only 2 troops, equipped with only 27 tanks, more than 90 artillery pieces and 18 attack helicopters.

Precisely because of the high social welfare, no one wants to join the army. So even though Kuwait’s military expenditure is not low, its combat effectiveness is very weak.

Now the armored forces strongly demand to replace the Type 80 main battle tanks and self-propelled anti-aircraft guns.

Because the tanks they are using now do not have air conditioning, but the Type 80 main battle tanks and self-propelled anti-aircraft guns do.

The combat effectiveness of the Type 80 main battle tank and self-propelled anti-aircraft gun in the Middle East has attracted the attention of Middle Eastern countries. Whether a weapon is useful or not ultimately depends on its performance on the battlefield.

Even the American M60 main battle tank and the British Chieftain main battle tank can be destroyed by a single shot from the Type 80 main battle tank, which fully demonstrates the superior performance of the Type 80 main battle tank.

"It seems that it's time to re-equip the troops!" Ahmed muttered.

Kuwait established diplomatic relations with China as early as 1971, but the relationship between the two sides is not close.

In Kuwait's view, China is poor and backward. How can it compare with the Soviet Union, Europe and the United States?
But now, the superior performance of China's weapons has been fully demonstrated. In recent years, the Middle East has had more contacts and exchanges with China. Gradually, they have come to understand China better and changed their views on China. They have all spontaneously strengthened their ties with China.

Before, Syria and other countries bought weapons from Kuwait, and Kuwait paid for them.

But now it is different. Faced with the voices of the troops, Ahmed has to change his strategy and re-equip the troops.

"Type 80 main battle tanks, Type 80 self-propelled anti-aircraft guns, and firearms." Ahmed thought to himself, "By the way, I heard that the 'Eagle Strike' anti-ship missiles and the 'Aegis' missile defense system are very advanced and can also be purchased."

"Strengthen the army to keep that bastard Saddam in line and stop him from targeting Kuwait all the time." Ahmed muttered.

The relationship between the two sides is good now, but Ahmed is not taking it lightly and is wary of Iraq.

Kuwait has never been afraid to spend money.

Kuwait has foreign exchange reserves of more than 150 billion US dollars. In addition, Kuwait has a large amount of wealth in Europe and the United States, which adds up to more than 500 billion US dollars.

How much would it cost to re-equip 3 troops?

"By the way, now young people in the country don't want to join the army. Maybe we can learn from Saudi Arabia and hire some mercenaries. Chinese security companies have a good reputation." Ahmed stroked his beard.

The security company owned by Panshan Group is now famous in Africa and the Middle East.

In terms of cost, it is even more cost-effective than maintaining an army.

Moreover, these mercenaries are not like other mercenaries who would cause trouble.

"We have to let the people in China take the initiative to contact us and have a talk." Ahmed had an idea in mind.

Ahmed is still very willing to cooperate with China. One advantage of China is that it only wants money and will not attach any political conditions. Moreover, it always keeps its word and keeps its promises. It is not like Europe and the United States, which say one thing and do another, and will give you additional money from time to time, and will not give you the goods if you don't pay more.

Ahmed liked this very much.

Kuwait lacks everything except money.

As long as it can be solved with money, it is not a problem.

Even Ahmed was wondering whether he should visit China to open a new chapter of cooperation between the two countries.

(End of this chapter)