Kremlin.

Andropov is now standing in front of a map of the world in his office, his eyes fixed on the location of Syria and Iraq, and in his hand a report entitled "Feasibility Analysis Report on the Syrian-Iranian Canal Plan."

This report was submitted two hours ago by Major General Karenia, head of the Sixth General Directorate of the Soviet State Security Council and director of the Far Eastern General Bureau.

Karenia made it clear in the report that with the strong support of the Syrian government, Tiangong Group conducted an effective investigation and demonstration of the Syria-Iraq Canal three years ago. After many years of field investigations, it was concluded that the construction of the Syrian-Iraqi Canal was feasible. The project will be financed in three major ways: sovereign investment funds of multinational countries, public funds in the global capital market, and sponsorship funds from participating companies.

According to the project budget plan, the construction cost of the Syria Canal will be recovered within 10 years after completion.

In particular, Major-General Karenia's emphasis on "a Soviet-controlled Grand Canal connecting the Mediterranean Sea to the Persian Gulf" was what made Andropov's heart pound the most.

The strategic position and value of the Suez Canal in the world, Andropov, of course, is well aware. It's a pity that the Soviet Union has never touched this Grand Canal connecting Europe, Asia and Africa. Although it is extremely greedy, it can only be sighed.

The control of the Suez Canal is equivalent to the control of Europe's oil import lifeline from the Persian Gulf.

Now, if this new Syrian-Iraqi Canal can be dug and put into operation, it means that the oil in the Persian Gulf will no longer need to go through the Red Sea-Suez Canal-Mediterranean route, and can directly enter the Mediterranean Sea through the Shatt-Euphrates-Syrian Canal, and all kinds of goods exported from Europe can also enter the Syrian Canal from the Mediterranean Sea and out of the Persian Gulf into the Indian Ocean, which is at least 2,000 kilometers shorter than the Suez Canal from the Red Sea to the Indian Ocean to Southeast Asia.

If this new route is then linked to the Kra Canal, which is about to start construction. The total number of ocean-going shipping routes from Europe to Southeast Asia has been reduced by nearly 3,000 nautical miles! The economic value and strategic significance of this are absolutely immeasurable! This is the true essence of the "new economic belt in the Indian Ocean" proposed by the Oriental Union!

Andropov knew in his heart that this plan was actually another big gift that Yang Weiping intended to give to the Soviet Union through Karenia's hands. This is not that Yang Weiping is pretending to be generous, but that the head of state of the Eastern Union is very self-aware, and he knows very well that with the current national strength of the Eastern Union, it is simply not enough to start construction of two huge Grand Canals at the same time. Also, and more importantly, there is. OUCC does not want to reach into the Middle East and compete head-on with the United States. And this was not a matter at all for the USSR.

Syria and Iraq can be considered the sphere of influence of the Soviet Union. If the Soviet government takes the lead in implementing the Syrian-Iraqi Canal plan, not only will the governments of Syria and Iraq respond positively, but they will also attract and attract other Arab countries in the Middle East to join in the investment. Mastering this new economic route will undoubtedly play a tremendous role in promoting the reform of the economic system and the country's economic development that the Soviet Union is implementing.

"The young head of state's strategic vision is really different!" Andropov muttered admiration as he stared at Syria and Iraq on the map.

The USSR needed this new canal!

Don't the Americans like to play economic tricks against the Soviet Union?

……

Coincidentally.

At the same time that Andropov made the plan for the Syrian-Iranian Canal led by the Soviet Union, he was in the prime minister's private office at 10 Downing Street in London, England. Margaret Thatcher also decided to support Yang Weiping's plan to dig a new canal in Syria.

Did Abdul Nasser think that Egypt would be able to reap the enormous economic benefits of the Suez Canal if it broke away from the British Empire? Did he think that Egypt would be all right if it won the Suez Canal War? Just wait for the construction of the Syrian Canal to break ground, and you damned Egyptians will know what true despair is! Thatcher secretly pondered in her heart.

Margaret Thatcher was sure that the French would be on the same side as Britain in anything that could be done to suppress the Egyptian government.

"Young, have you calculated how much money is needed for the chief project of the Syria-Iraq Canal and how long will it take?" asked Margaret Thatcher quite seriously.

Yang Weiping replied with a deep groan: "Compared with the Kra Canal, the length of the Syria Canal is 100 kilometers longer. However, the topography of the site of the Syria-Iraq Canal project is much simpler than that of the Kra Isthmus, and the altitude is below 200 meters. In accordance with the principle of accommodating large oil tankers to play a role in economic benefits. Combined with the need to build bridges and other infrastructure to connect the northwestern plains of Syria that were carved off by the canal, and to dredge the lower Euphrates River, I have a preliminary estimate of a total construction cost of 300 billion Asian dollars over a five-year period. ”

"300 billion Asian dollars, converted into US dollars, is 60 billion. Margaret Thatcher muttered to herself: "The five-year construction period will cost at least $12 billion a year." It's a huge project!"

"I plan to let the Soviet Union take the lead. Yang Weiping coldly surprised Margaret Thatcher again.

"The Soviet Union will take the lead?!" Margaret Thatcher stared at Yang Weiping with wide eyes. After a while, Fang asked with an extremely solemn expression: "Andropov has already agreed?"

"I think this is a good opportunity for the USSR to engage with Europe and break the ice. Yang Weiping said: "If we can cooperate happily in the Syrian-Iraqi Canal project, then the next project to persuade the Soviet Union to invest in laying oil and gas pipelines in Europe will definitely be implemented more smoothly." ”

"Your Excellency, have you ever thought about the opening and operation of the Syrian-Iraqi Canal. What kind of impact would it have for the Soviet Union to control the lifeline of oil from the Persian Gulf to Europe?" asked Margaret Thatcher with great emotion.

"Isn't the Suez Canal now secretly controlled by the US government?" Yang Weiping asked instead of answering: "Madam, don't you think that letting the Soviet Union invest money in economic construction is more in line with the general trend of world peace and development than letting them use this money for military spending?"

Margaret Thatcher was silent.

In terms of the amount of investment and the scale of the project, it is obvious that allowing the Soviet Union to invest in the construction of the Syrian-Iraqi Canal will be more able to draw money from the Soviet treasury than allowing the Soviet Union to invest in the European oil and gas pipeline project. But the problem is that Syria is also a socialist country and belongs to the sphere of influence of the Soviet Union, and once the Syria-Iraq Canal is opened and put into operation, it will definitely become a huge cash cow for the Soviet Union, Syria and Iraq. Britain simply could not intervene, let alone close the Grand Canal.

Unless, before the Syrian-Iranian Canal is dug and put into operation, find a way to provoke a war between Syria and Israel. However, from the Soviet Union's point of view, the Soviet Union will definitely support Syria to ensure the opening and operation of the canal, and the Eastern Union will certainly not sit idly by, and Israel may not be able to eat and walk around at that time.

Proceeding from the standpoint of international morality and general righteousness, the Soviet Union helped Syria, which was also in the socialist camp, to dig a canal, and no country had any reason to stand up and accuse. It is estimated that the only one who dares to speak out is Egypt, a country with a vested interest in the Suez Canal.

Even if the U.S. government had a thousand or ten thousand unwillingness, they would not have been able to go to war with the Soviet Union because it had dug a canal in Syria.

Yang Weiping's move really hit the weakness of the Americans once again! Following the abolition of the Strait of Malacca, the Suez Canal was abolished immediately afterwards. It was really ruthless! It was too vicious!

Since there was no way to stop the new strategic plan jointly implemented by the Eastern Union and the Soviet Union, Britain could only choose to participate in it in order to get a piece of the pie.

"Madame, at the root of peaceful evolution is economic evolution and cultural evolution. Yang Weiping looked at Margaret Thatcher meaningfully, and the old god smiled on the ground: "Using war means is always the best strategy." You know, hehe!"

Could it be that this "little old fox" had already seen the plan that Reagan and I had drawn up many years ago? Mrs. Thatcher couldn't help but be stared at by Yang Weiping's eyes that seemed to be able to see through people's hearts.

"Don't you like Andropov's reforms?" said Thatcher, cleverly, quickly changed the subject.

"Since the time of Khrushchev, the Soviet Union has gradually degenerated from socialism into decadent bureaucratic capitalism. Yang Weiping sighed and sighed: "It can be said that the roots of the Soviet Union have rotten. No matter how enterprising Andropov is, the traditional conservative forces in the Soviet Union will never sit idly by and watch Andropov leverage their existing vested interests. These conservative forces were so entrenched that Andropov's prestige in the Soviet Union was not enough to suppress them. ”

"Do you mean that sooner or later there will be a great coup d'état in the Soviet Union?" asked Margaret Thatcher, whose eyes lit up with joy.

Yang Weiping nodded lightly and said with a sigh: "When Andropov's reforms completely touch the final bottom line of the conservative forces in the Soviet Union, these conservatives, who control the vast majority of the power and resources of the Soviet Union, will definitely fight back." It will be an earth-shattering battle to decide the fate of the Soviet Union, and who will be the final victor is probably known only to God. ”

Mrs. Thatcher's mind flashed with inspiration, she looked at Yang Weiping with deep meaning, and smiled gracefully and gracefully: "Yang, can I understand that all your cooperation with the Soviet Union is in preparation for the coup d'état that does not know when?"

"Hehe, that's what Madame said, and I've never said that. Yang Weiping smiled noncommittally. (To be continued......)