Dominate South Asia

Port Gwadar? Although Baker is Secretary of State, it is impossible for him to know all the construction projects in all countries. As for Pakistan, he only knows the Karachi port.

Now, after hearing Mhamad's words, he thought it was just a small unknown port, and couldn't help but ask: "Can it accommodate our aircraft carrier?"

An aircraft carrier can weigh tens of thousands of tons and has a draft of more than ten meters. If the water depth in the port is not enough and the aircraft carrier runs aground, it will be a big trouble.

"Of course we can. Our port can accommodate a 300,000-ton oil tanker, not to mention a 100,000-ton aircraft carrier." Mhamad said, "Look, it's right here."

Looking in the direction indicated by Hamad, Baker suddenly felt happy. This position turned out to be outside the Strait of Hormuz. This was even better. Our aircraft carrier formation only needed to sail for a while after leaving the port. , carrier-based aircraft can be launched for attack operations.

"Okay, thank you very much for your help." Baker said, "We want to rent this port!"

The location is suitable and can accommodate one's own aircraft carrier formation. Baker does not need to go back to discuss with Navy personnel before this place is decided.

"Mr. Baker, now, let's talk about the rental issue of the port." Mhamad said: "It took Pakistan five years to develop this port, with a total investment of tens of billions of dollars..."

After hearing what Hamad said, Baker quickly interrupted him. Who doesn't know that this guy is simply a businessman! When it comes to price, there’s no point in talking about it! The way to deal with him is to cut through the mess quickly!

"President Hamad, we in the United States have made a decision to forgive your military purchase debt for several times during the war in Afghanistan." Baker said: "It will be used to offset the lease of your port. What do you think?"

Why do Americans always hold on to sesame seeds and rotten millet? Hamad couldn't help but think to himself. Isn’t it just some military purchases? From the initial purchase of Tomcat fighter jets, Pakistan began to borrow money on credit. Until the end of the war in Afghanistan, Pakistan borrowed a total of less than 10 billion U.S. dollars, and now Pakistan has repaid several million dollars in interest.

Hamad thought very depressed. He had already made up his mind to give up, and now, the Americans actually offered to use these in exchange to lease their own ports. Hamad indeed had no other words to say.

"Okay." Mhamad said: "Our economy in Pakistan is weak and we owed so much debt during the war. Now we only have to pay back the interest, which is already a heavy burden. If you can forgive all those loans, we can let We are relieved of a heavy burden and we are very grateful.”

Heavy baggage? With Pakistan's current economic strength, it is very easy to pay off those debts, but this guy just keeps refusing to pay them back. They also blackmailed the United States by defaulting on their debts. The United States detained the F-16 fighter jets ordered by Pakistan, which also had a lot to do with it.

Now. The United States needed Pakistan to provide a naval base, and Pakistan provided it obediently. Both parties were happy, and each other's accounts were wiped off. It seems that this trip to the Middle East will definitely go smoothly.

"We have also built an airport in the north of Gwadar Port." At this moment, Mhamad spoke again.

Airport!

The United States wants more than just a navy presence. The Air Force will also be stationed! If the air force is stationed in Pakistan, after taking off, it only needs to perform a mid-air refueling over the Persian Gulf, and then it can fly over Iraq to bomb! At the same time, since the Iraqi Air Force does not have aerial refueling capabilities, it will not pose any threat to the bases in Pakistan!

Baker's head suddenly became hot.

"Can we rent this airport simultaneously?" Baker said.

"This is a civil airport, and it is planned to be opened together with the port." Mhamad said: "Since you have a request, we can give priority to it, but the rent will have to be calculated separately."

Baker already had some premonitions in his heart. I shouldn't have said it too early. We have already finished negotiating the lease of the port, and if we talk about renting the airport again, we will definitely need to pay more!

"We spent a total of 30 billion to develop this airport. Now, if we want to force Iraq to surrender, we may have to carry out air strikes for more than a year. After this airport is put into operation, it will have an annual income of at least 5 billion US dollars. "Mhammad has already begun to settle accounts: "Moreover, many facilities at the airport, such as those buildings, can be occupied by people. These are also a large amount of income. We have also set up a special power transmission line here. . The rent for one year is at least 10 billion US dollars!”

Hamad finished the calculation and said to Baker solemnly: "Mr. Baker, ten billion dollars will be leased to you for one year. After that time, if you still need it, we can add it up. What do you think?" Sample?"

Seeing this guy speaking so seriously, Baker had the urge to vomit blood. Ten billion dollars! Why don't you go grab the money! Although the United States has money, it can't spend it like this, right?

Besides, since President Bush came to power, military spending has been exceeding the standard, and the Congress is stuck. If he agrees to rent ten billion US dollars, Baker will probably be drowned by those guys in the Congress after he returns. .

"No, President Mhamad, this price is too high and we cannot accept it," Baker said.

"Then you don't have to rent it." Mhammad said: "We will open this new airport. Many civil aviation aircraft can fly here. We can obtain the same benefits through commercial operations."

Civilian airliners! If all the civil airliners come, what will the US Air Force do? Baker hesitated and said, "President Muhammad, we Americans come with friendship to help Kuwait and drive away the barbaric invaders. I hope you won't be too demanding. Ten billion dollars is too expensive. We can't accept it. Five billion dollars..."

"Okay, then we'll give you five billion dollars." Muhammad answered quite straightforwardly: "We'll give our great American friends a 50% discount. This is the only chance. If you still don't agree, forget it."

Baker shut up. He just wanted to say that five billion dollars was a bit too much, but Muhammad took over. To be fair, being able to cut the price in half from Muhammad was already quite good.

"Okay, then we can provide five billion dollars in military aid." Baker said: "This fee will last until we finish fighting the Iraqi invaders."

Directly paying rent is different from military aid. The US military aid means that the US provides this money, but it has to purchase weapons and equipment in the US. In this way, the US arms dealers can still make a profit, but the money given to the other party is reduced.

US arms dealers can raise the price to reduce the US government's spending.

Baker also put forward a time requirement, not just one year, but until Iraq is driven out.

Hearing Baker's words, Muhammad pondered. Looking at Muhammad's uncertain expression, Baker thought that he had bargained too much. How about increasing the funds?

Fortunately, this sentence was held in Baker's mouth for ten minutes, and he didn't say it until he heard Muhammad speak again: "Okay, we can agree to rent this airport to you until the Iraqis are evacuated from Kuwait. However, for this $5 billion military aid, we need to buy some equipment, and you need to export all of it to us."

"As long as we have it in the United States, we can export it." Baker said. Now, the United States needs Pakistan as an ally, so it needs to be more generous, at least in words.

"First, we need to buy four sets of C-13-2 steam catapults, a full set of equipment." Muhammad said.

This sentence immediately made Baker stunned, steam catapult!

Muhammad's attitude is quite firm. If the Americans don't sell it to Pakistan, then the Americans will definitely not be able to use this airport!

At this time, Pakistan has started to build a new aircraft carrier. The entire hull is built in sections and progress is rapid, but the catapult for the aircraft carrier is still not seen.

Originally, Muhammad planned to start from the Soviet Union, but the Soviet Union has not yet disintegrated. It seems that it will take time to obtain these technologies. It will take several years from the construction to the service of the aircraft carrier. Pakistan can wait, but now, with this opportunity, Muhammad knows that he must seize it and must not miss it!

Pakistan's first aircraft carrier, the Endeavour, has two steam catapults that can launch Tomcat fighters, and this catapult is just an ordinary C-11 catapult. The aircraft carrier needs to sail at full speed to launch the Tomcat fighter. And now, the C-13-2 that Muhammad wants is the largest steam catapult in the United States. It can launch carrier-based aircraft with a full load in the absence of wind and at the cruising speed of the aircraft carrier.

The most suitable choice for Pakistan's new aircraft carrier is this C-13-2 catapult!

This thing is also the magic weapon of the Americans. It is unique in the world. In the future, only the French Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier purchased two catapults from the United States during the development process. The Americans also cheated the Gallic chickens without negotiation, and the price was ten times the price for their own use.

Now, even if the Americans want these four catapults for $5 billion, Muhammad will accept it.

Muhammad emphasized that it was four catapults and all the equipment. The Americans must not be tricky. In the end, four sets of cylinder pistons were sent. You know, the difficulty is those high-pressure gas storage equipment.

"What do you want the catapult for?" Unlike Muhammad's guess, Baker heard Muhammad's words and first had doubts. After all, Pakistan already has aircraft carriers and catapults. Could it be that Pakistan wants to build a new aircraft carrier? (To be continued ~^~)