USSR 1991

Yanayev almost blurted out, how about I give you a few aircraft carriers to pay off your debts?

"No."

Yanayev refused with righteous words, "The Soviet Union does not have so much funds to provide. We can take out 60 billion at most, which is our limit. And we also require these loans to be able to move freely in a short period of time. The rest The next four billion is for France to settle on its own."

"..."

Chirac didn't expect that the Soviet Union would come to this show, which is completely different from his own script that he fully supported at the beginning.He also wanted to bargain with the other party, and Yanayev also played Tai Chi with Chirac.

"Our Arctic Circle oil exploration plan has to continue to invest funds, and the Far East development plan in cooperation with Japan and the laying of oil pipelines also need to increase capital investment. Including the recent Asia-Pacific cooperation plan, our foreign currency savings are already tight. Not We are unwilling to invest huge sums of money in the Mediterranean, but the economic strength of the Soviet Union determines that we can only invest a maximum of 60 billion.”

Yanayev deliberately leaked his words to make Chirac misjudge that the Soviet Union's foreign currency savings were in a hurry, and to send wrong information so that the other party could make a wrong judgment in the next negotiation.

President Chirac said pointedly, "But look, the Soviet Union is still able to use battlecruisers to patrol the Mediterranean Sea and provoke North African countries. It is really hard to believe that your foreign currency savings..."

Chirac's subtext said, I will not believe that you are fooling the United States.

Yanayev deliberately said that it was a headache, "Isn't that a way to put on a facade? Everyone knows that the Soviet Union has been reducing the old ships of various fleets and simplifying the bloated establishment. It has become a big problem. The cruiser's Mediterranean patrol will consume a lot of the Black Sea Navy budget, and the appropriation project does not know when it will come down."

Pavlov, who was sitting aside, forced himself to hold back a smile, especially when he saw Yanayev lying in a serious manner, as if the Soviet Navy really couldn't get rid of it.

Faced with Yanayev's helplessness, Chirac didn't know what to say for a while.The atmosphere was deadlocked, and he didn't know how to continue the chat with Yanayev.

If the Soviet Union cannot be won over, the Mediterranean Union will become the possession of the Americans.

But good news and bad news always come together.

"President Chirac, in this way, I propose a solution, what do you think?"

Before OPEC and the Soviet Union signed a joint advance and retreat plan, they realized that oil production cuts are imminent, and there may be a period of low tide in the future. If you do not take this opportunity to sell the backlog of oil, the losses will be even more severe in the future.The plan to replace bank loans with oil was born naturally.Yanayev and Chirac have been arguing for so long, just to give him a little hope when the other party is desperate.

Seeing that the time was almost ripe, Yanayev took the opportunity to encourage the other party, "How about signing an oil supply project between the Soviet Union and France, and we use a batch of oil to offset the loan?"

"Don't worry, the Soviet Union will never treat our allies badly."

He almost patted his chest and swore a promise.

Chapter 8 Twelve Ponzi schemes in disguise

Yanayev’s oil debt repayment policy also has his own considerations. According to the previous agreement with OPEC, he will not offset all the crude oil at the original price, but only offset two-thirds of the total price. That is to say, France still needs Pay a third of the cost.Even if all these crude oil were sold, the Soviet Union would not feel too distressed.

In case crude oil falls in the future, the backlog of "black gold" sold in advance in Yanayev's hands can also alleviate the pain of becoming "black water".And when crude oil soared to almost $60 a barrel, Chirac had an indescribable surprise in the face of a sudden sale that lowered the market price by ten dollars.

But surprises are surprises, and France does not need nearly 40 billion US dollars of crude oil now.The Soviet Union's debt repayment in this way also caused him other problems, such as the reserve and settlement of French foreign exchange.In addition to the French government going to fill up the Soviet Union's part of the Mediterranean Bank's plan, it has to advance its own share.When there are advantages and disadvantages, the first thing Chirac needs to consider is whether the advantages of doing so outweigh the disadvantages.

"If France is willing to use Soviet oil as an offset part of the loan, then I think our dialogue can continue. If not, the Soviet Union is willing to respect France's choice and withdraw from the Mediterranean plan."

Yanayev hastily put pressure on the French President, now that he has the initiative, France needs itself, because of the oppression of the United States, they are already grasshoppers on the same rope.

The Soviet Union's strategy of retreating into advance made France very embarrassed. On the one hand, they were ready to unite with the Soviet Union to fight against the United States. On the other hand, the huge amount also made the French government feel embarrassed.

"But we can't come up with such a large amount of funds at once." Chirac said in embarrassment, "There will be a considerable loophole in the Mediterranean Bank's plan, and the fund cannot be filled, which means that it will not be able to operate in the initial stage. .”

The Soviet Union gave France an idea, and a disguised version of the "Ponzi scheme" was born. Yanayev said, "The Soviet Union sold crude oil that was reduced by ten dollars per barrel to France, and France can also sell it to other countries in the same way. , Isn’t it? You can sell it for five dollars below the market price, and in this way, France can still earn the middle price difference. In this way, you can solve the capital loophole and at the same time earn a sum of money to fill the vacancy of foreign exchange expenditure.”

It's just that when the price of crude oil falls, the receivers of this batch of oil will suffer heavy losses.Crude oil worth nearly eight or nine billion is like a bomb that disrupts the oil market. Whoever is unlucky will become the last country to take over.

When OPEC signed a joint advance and retreat policy with the Soviet Union, Yanayev had already realized that price decline would become an irreversible trend.

"I understand."

Chirac suddenly realized that doing so seemed a bit despicable, but it would not only allow France to recover its capital, but also relieve the pressure on French finances brought by the Mediterranean Bank.It's the best of both worlds.

In addition to the slightly troublesome process and procedures, France can still earn a good price difference in the end.Yanayev could even tell from the other party's breathing that Chirac was still very interested in this matter.

"Now, is there further cooperation between the Soviet Union and France?" Yanayev asked with a smile.At this moment, he only wanted the other party to promise himself as soon as possible.

"Okay." Chirac replied.

After Chirac hung up the phone, Yanayev heaved a sigh of relief. He turned his head and looked at Primakov, who was stunned beside him, and shrugged, "What's the matter? Do you have any opinions on my plan? "

"No." Primakov shook his head. "I just didn't know General Secretary Yanayev could do that."

Yanayev raised the corners of his mouth and said, "We can negotiate with the leaders of OPEC and announce a joint reduction in oil production. Throwing this squeezed inventory into the oil market will inevitably cause a sharp drop in prices. Only by reducing oil production , to maintain the operation of the oil market, this emergency sell-off should be regarded as a problem for the Americans."

Then President Mario was dumbfounded.

Chirac announced to the outside world that the representatives of France and the Soviet Union issued a joint statement that the Soviet Union and France would invest nearly 180 billion in the Mediterranean Bank to give a boost to this cooperation.As soon as this news came out, the countries of the Mediterranean Union understood what kind of secret deal the Soviet Union and France had conducted behind the scenes.

It's so dirty that it can't be seen, this news is also a message, those countries that are still hesitating between the Soviet Union, France and the United States, it's time to choose to take sides.However, everyone knows that France and the Soviet Union have become an alliance of interests, and they naturally know where to deflect.Therefore, Egypt, a diehard French loyalist, immediately stood up and emphasized its support for the decision made by President Chirac after the Franco-Soviet joint statement was released.

As a result, President Mario couldn't sit still anymore. Isn't this playing out according to the routine?He immediately sent the derelict national security adviser to the White House to explain exactly what was going on.

"For God's sake, what kind of idiots are we raising in our annual budget?" President Mario clenched his fists. "Who can tell me why? Why is the Soviet Union always able to find out before we do?" Breach, and then catch us off guard, what the hell are the elites in the White House thinking of writing? Are they stupid pigs like Gorbachev?"

Facing President Mario's overwhelming accusations, Presidential Advisor Berger pushed the thick lenses on the bridge of his nose helplessly.Indeed, the previous analysis that the Soviet Union could not provide the funds needed by the Mediterranean Union is the result of his many verifications and calculations, and there is absolutely no mistake.But who would have thought that the Soviet Union would actually adopt the method of oil payment, cleverly avoiding the trap designed by the United States.

This, Berger is unexpected.

What's even more frightening is that the Soviet Union gave France a preferential price lower than the market price, which meant that France could still resell the oil to earn a difference. Although the Soviet Union lost part of its foreign exchange income, it was in terms of making up for the capital investment of the Mediterranean Union. , they still earned.They are a win-win situation, and the United States, which has done nothing, is more like a loser.

"We will try our best to make up for this mistake..."

Berger tried to comfort President Mario, but was met with an angry reply.The back of Mario's hands was covered with sudden blue veins, and he almost wanted to send all the think tanks to see Washington!

"Make it up? How to make it up? Do you want the United States to continue to fill this black hole with funds? France's dominant position will no longer be changed, consultant Berger. I hope our White House think tank can analyze the problem next time. Use your brains instead of drawing me random conclusions! Bastard, I now wonder if the guys in the White House have become members of the KGB, why do I draw the same conclusions as idiots every time!"

Berger blushed, but said nothing.

President Mario slumped on the sofa, and he was powerless to refute others.

"At this point, it is impossible for the United States to win the banner of the Mediterranean Union. Not having the largest share means that we can only win over pro-American forces as much as possible, so that our resistance will be much greater. But it is not hopeless."

Mario sighed, he had no strength to accuse the other party of who was wrong or who was right.Or blame has been of no avail.Since the time of President Bush, they have not been able to control the initiative. Looking back at the history from 1991 to the present, the United States has always lost more than it has won.Now Mario can only comfort himself in his heart. At least doing so has deepened the contradictions and crises within the EU. Cole has been powerless to prevent the EU from falling apart.Although Waterloo made mistakes tactically, at least strategically ensured the smooth implementation of the plan, which was a consolation to Mario.

"We have supported the Mediterranean Union, which is tantamount to a fatal blow to Germany. Now the French's goal is no longer focused on cleaning up the EU's mess."

President Mario narrowed his eyes, and the corners of his mouth curled up.

"Now, we should take the initiative."

Kohl is going crazy now, the next German presidential election is coming up.The terrible thing is that the five East German states have unanimous support for the East German Democratic Baath Party, and the slogans put forward by the German Democratic Baath Party are completely aimed at the bottom of the people, such as medical care and education.The most terrible thing is that the Soviet Union gave the other party a series of appropriations in private, which means that the Democratic Baath Party is fully capable of independently fulfilling their slogans to the people.

Bread, jobs, education, and medical care are simply the reappearance of the glory of the Communist International in the industrial age.

Coupled with the fact that they still have the German Democratic Republic Army in their hands, isn't this the original line of the Soviet October Revolution?

The crisis of the general election is approaching. If it is not handled well, Germany will once again trigger a civil war.Although Cole tried to counterattack, the Soviet troops deployed on the ceasefire line made them fearful.After the expansion of soldiers and armored forces, they are not afraid of the East German armed forces, but they are afraid of another force, the Soviet Red Army.