165: Chapter 165 Corresponding Security Forces

Two o'clock in the afternoon.

Chang'an Street, the press briefing hall of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Great Xia.

The press conference was temporarily announced to start at three in the afternoon.

As soon as the reporters received the news, they rushed over one after another.

"What's going on? A temporarily added press conference?"

"I don't know, the notice didn't say."

"Could it be related to those princes who came from the Middle East this morning?"

Three o'clock sharp.

The door of the briefing hall opened.

The reporters swarmed in.

Then—everyone was stunned.

Sitting on the podium were not officials of Great Xia.

Instead, they were five Middle Eastern princes wearing white robes.

Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, and Oman.

Representatives of the royal families of the five countries sat neatly in a row.

"This... what is going on?"

The reporters exchanged glances.

When did the Ministry of Foreign Affairs press briefing hall ever let foreigners hold press conferences?

Mohammed sat in the middle and picked up the microphone.

"Friends from the media, thank you for coming to this press conference."

He paused: "Today, our five countries jointly announce a major cooperation plan—'Green Middle East'."

He paused for a moment, took a deep breath, and his tone became even more sincere:

"However, we also clearly realize that relying solely on the strength of our five countries, it will be difficult to turn this grand vision into reality."

"Environmental governance in the Middle East requires the world's most advanced technology, the strongest industrial strength, and the richest experience."

The camera flashes began to flicker frantically.

Reporters raised their voice recorders and turned on their cameras.

Mohammed took out a document:

"For a long time, the Middle East has faced serious desertification problems."

"Over 90% of the territory of our five countries is desert."

"The arable land area is less than 5%."

"The food self-sufficiency rate is extremely low, and we rely heavily on imports."

He put down the document: "This not only threatens our food security, but also restricts the sustainable development of the region."

"Therefore—"

Mohammed looked at the camera: "Our five countries have decided to jointly launch the 'Green Middle East' plan."

"The goal is: in the next twenty years, reclaim 10 million hectares of desert and increase the food self-sufficiency rate to over 30%."

Reporters off stage began to whisper.

"What does this have to do with Great Xia?"

"Also, why are they holding a press conference in Great Xia?"

Mohammed continued:

"To achieve this goal, we need world-leading agricultural technology."

"After careful consideration, we unanimously agree—"

"Great Xia is the most suitable partner."

"Academician Yuan of Great Xia has fed more than a billion people with hybrid rice."

"Great Xia's desertification control technology is world-leading."

"Great Xia's seawater desalination and water-saving irrigation technology are also what we urgently need."

"So—"

He stood up and bowed deeply to the camera:

"Our five countries officially invite Great Xia to be the technical partner of the 'Green Middle East' plan."

There was an uproar off stage.

The UAE leader stood up and took out another document:

"To express our sincerity, the five countries have reached a consensus."

"We will provide the following conditions:

First, allocate a total of 5 million hectares of desert land for Great Xia to establish agricultural technology demonstration bases.

Second, all infrastructure construction costs will be borne by us.

Third, in the next twenty years, supply 500 million barrels of oil to Great Xia every year at 55% of the market price.

Fourth, natural gas supply agreement of 200 million tons per year.

Fifth, port usage rights and supply chain discounts.

Sixth—"

He paused, raising his voice:

"All cooperation expenses will be settled entirely in RMB!"

The audience exploded.

"Holy shit!"

"RMB settlement?"

"This is trying to tie it to the RMB!"

Reporters recorded frantically.

This is big news.

The Emir of Kuwait also stood up:

"We know that this project is massive in scale and has a very long cycle."

"Therefore, we hope that Great Xia can dispatch enough agricultural experts and technicians."

"At the same time—"

He looked at the camera:

"Considering the complex security situation in the Middle East, we also hope that Great Xia can provide sufficient security guarantees for these experts."

"We are willing to negotiate specific security measures with Great Xia."

The reporters off stage reacted.

"Security guarantees..."

"This is asking Great Xia to send armed forces!"

"Agricultural cooperation is just a name, actually it's inviting Great Xia to station in the Middle East!"

"Brilliant! This move is too brilliant!"

The Emir of Qatar spoke last:

"We understand that this request may require careful consideration by Great Xia."

"But we are sincere."

"The Middle East needs peace, and even more needs development."

"And Great Xia—"

He looked at the camera:

"Is our most trusted partner."

"We believe that with the help of Great Xia, the desert of the Middle East will definitely turn into an oasis."

The five princes stood up neatly together.

Bowing to the camera again.

Click click—

The flashes lit up the room.

Half an hour later.

The video of this press conference has already begun to spread on the internet.

Weibo hot searches began to feature related topics:

"#Green Middle East Plan#"

"#Five Countries Invite Great Xia#"

"#RMB Settled Oil#"

Netizens reacted one after another:

"Damn, this wave of operations has some substance. However, it doesn't seem very attractive to us. We don't lack energy now, and we lack oil even less."

"Nominally agricultural cooperation, actually inviting Great Xia to station in the Middle East!"

"Agricultural experts need protection, protection needs armed forces, armed forces need... mechas!"

"This logic is perfect!"

"And look at the conditions they gave—oil, natural gas, ports, and RMB settlement!"

"This is helping Great Xia challenge the hegemony of the eagle dollar!"

Someone in the comment section analyzed:

"Brothers, this matter is terrifying upon careful thought."

"The five Middle Eastern countries united to tie RMB with oil, which is a fatal blow to the eagle dollar hegemony."

"Didn't Eagle Sauce fight Iraq back then just because Saddam wanted to settle oil in euros?"

"Now that these five countries have united, does Eagle Sauce dare to fight?"

"Dare not."

"Why?"

"Because Great Xia has mechas."

"And their agricultural cooperation is legitimate and justified."

"Eagle Sauce wants to oppose it? That would be opposing environmental protection, opposing food security, and opposing humanitarianism."

"International public opinion will drown them first."

"Understood, understood!"

"This wave, this wave is an open conspiracy!"

Some people also worried:

"But are we really going to farm in the Middle East? The situation there is so chaotic..."

"What is there to be afraid of? Go with mechas, nominally to protect agricultural experts."

"That's right, a mecha standing there is more useful than ten aircraft carrier battle groups."

"Nominally an agricultural base, actually a military presence."

"And we went at their invitation, so we have a justified cause."

"Awesome, truly awesome!"

Some people also noticed the details:

"Did you notice, what they said was 5 million hectares."

"What concept is that?"

"Equivalent to 50,000 square kilometers!"

"Almost one and a half times the size of Wanwan!"

"With such a large territory, many bases will definitely be built."

"With more bases, the stationed 'security forces' will naturally be more."

"By then, the Middle East will become the back garden of Great Xia."

"Eagle Sauce has operated in the Middle East for decades, and returned to pre-liberation overnight."

"Too ruthless!"

Five o'clock in the afternoon.

Press conference of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Great Xia.

The spokesperson faced the camera:

"Regarding the 'Green Middle East' plan proposed by the five Middle Eastern countries, we are carefully studying it."

"Great Xia has always attached importance to international agricultural cooperation and environmental protection."

"If this plan is indeed conducive to regional peace and development, we will not refuse."

"We will give a reply as soon as possible after evaluating the specific plan."

Reporter's question: "How many agricultural experts will be dispatched?"

"That depends on project needs. A preliminary estimate is that thousands of experts and technicians may be needed."

"Will a long-term base be established?"

"The desert reclamation of 5 million hectares is not a short-term project. Establishing a long-term technology demonstration base is necessary."

"How will the safety of agricultural experts be guaranteed?"

The spokesperson paused: "We will take all necessary measures to guarantee the safety of our citizens."

"What specific measures does that include?"

"This..." The spokesperson smiled, "will be determined according to actual conditions. But one thing is for sure, we will ensure nothing goes wrong."

This remark was very skillful.

"All necessary measures"—does that include mechas or not?

Of course it includes them.

The reporters understood tacitly.

That night.

News Broadcast.

The host broadcasted:

"At the invitation of the five Middle Eastern countries, after careful study, our country has agreed in principle to participate in the 'Green Middle East' agricultural cooperation plan. At that time, an agricultural expert team will be dispatched to provide technical support..."

"At the same time, in order to guarantee the safety of our citizens, corresponding security forces will be dispatched according to actual needs."

Viewers across the country smiled when they saw this.

"Corresponding security forces."

These seven words contain too much information.