Chapter 1242 Colonel Ka is in a good mood
Libya, capital Tripoli.
Tripoli, the capital of Libya, is located on the edge of the northwestern desert of Libya and the Mediterranean coast. It is the main city, main port, and main commercial and manufacturing center of Libya.
Libya has a population of nearly 6 million, of which Tripoli has a population of 1.5 million, accounting for 25%.
This ancient city with a long history of more than 2,700 years has been a trade center and strategic location since ancient times, and it is also the lifeline of Libya.
During the Libyan War, the United States relied on air strikes to almost blow the city into ruins.
It took the Libyan people more than ten years to rebuild the city.
The city looks very new, but the buildings are very Islamic in style, and the city looks very clean.
Since the sharp rise in energy prices in 2001, relying on abundant oil and natural gas, and the huge income brought by the export of a large amount of oil and natural gas, Libya has not only repaid all its foreign debts, but also reached a record high in foreign exchange reserves.
Libya's foreign exchange reserves include 300 tons of gold reserves, 5 billion US dollars, 10 billion euros and 80 billion RMB.
This is because Libya has increased its investment in military construction in recent years, and its military expenditure has hit new highs, spending a lot of RMB. Otherwise, Libya's foreign exchange reserves will be even greater.
The huge oil and gas income allowed Gaddafi to implement a high social welfare system in Libya again, with medical care, education and housing all free, which is truly free.
In order to win over Europe, Libya is constantly showing goodwill to Europe through Russia, especially to France and Germany.
As for Britain, Libya is full of hostility.
Because in the Libyan War, in addition to the United States, Britain also bombed Libya.
When Gaddafi knew that the seventh Middle East war had broken out, he couldn't help but secretly breathe a sigh of relief.
Before that, the United States had been constantly expressing a tough attitude towards Libya, and the United States was mobilizing public opinion for the Libyan war. Now that the seventh Middle East war has broken out, the United States has no energy to launch a Libyan war in a short time.
Although he hates the United States, Gaddafi is still very clear about the strength of the United States.
Otherwise, Gaddafi would not have allowed the Russian Caspian Fleet to be stationed in the Libyan naval base for a long time.
This Russian fleet is also called the Mediterranean Fleet.
This Russian Mediterranean Fleet has 60,000 people, 18 missile nuclear submarines, 17 nuclear attack submarines, 14 conventional submarines, 4 missile cruisers, 10 missile destroyers, 40 missile frigates, nearly 400 other types of ships, and 177 fleet aviation aircraft.
To be honest, when the Soviet Union suddenly split up from the reformists and conservatives, Gaddafi was dumbfounded at the time.
But fortunately, the world situation is different.
Gaddafi hummed a song and set off for the military port.
At this time, the military port was carrying out transportation.
This is the "Aegis-0" air defense missile system and the "Aegis-1" air defense missile system purchased by Gaddafi.
Gaddafi had used SAM air defense missiles and S300 air defense missiles in the past, and he knew very well which of the two air defense missiles was better.
With the arrival of this batch of goods, Libya will have 20 battalions of 'Aegis-0' air defense missile systems and 20 battalions of 'Aegis-1' air defense missile systems, which will greatly enhance Libya's air defense capabilities.
As Libya, which had suffered heavy bombings from the United States in the past, can be said to be the country that attaches the most importance to the construction of air defense forces in the world.
Even when the United States announced that it would attack Libya, Gaddafi was already preparing, and he transferred all his gold reserves and foreign exchange out of Libya.
Once the United States launched the Libyan war, even if Libya was defeated, he could still make a comeback with these wealth and take back Libya again.
Of course, that was the most disadvantageous.
Unless he had to, Gaddafi had never thought of leaving Libya.
Because Libya was his territory, he was supreme in Libya.
If he left Libya, his status and influence would plummet.
"Chen, welcome to beautiful Tripoli!" Gaddafi smiled and greeted a middle-aged man.
This middle-aged man has tanned skin, is about 170 cm tall, has strong muscles, and has a strong military style, which makes him look tough.
Chen Ming, one of the first members of the "Wolf Warrior" special forces, has won numerous military exploits. He has served as the captain of the special forces squad, the captain of the special forces squadron, and the captain of the special forces battalion. He chose to retire from the special forces in 1995. He did not choose to return to ordinary life, but chose to be a mercenary in the mercenary group.
Currently, there are as many as 30 mercenary groups managed by Chen Ming, spread throughout North Africa.
One of the mercenary groups has been stationed in Libya for a long time.
When Chen Ming came to Tripoli, Libya in 1995, he was warmly welcomed by Gaddafi. The two have known each other for a full ten years and can be regarded as old friends.
Chen Ming had returned to China before. This time, the ship was carrying this batch of goods. Chen Ming had just finished his family visit leave and came to Libya with the ship.
Chen Ming smiled and said, "Omar, this batch of goods was shipped smoothly and delivered to you three months ahead of the agreed time!"
"Yes, I have always believed in your efficiency and credibility!" Gaddafi nodded and praised, "I will treat you to a good drink this time!"
Chen Ming smiled, "You can't drink this wine until next time, I have to leave?"
"Oh? You are being transferred? Where are you being transferred to?" Gaddafi asked curiously, "Of course, if it is inconvenient, don't tell me."
Chen Ming waved his hand and said, "It's not convenient or inconvenient, I just have to go to Algeria! Go there to deal with some things."
Gaddafi's heart moved.
Algeria and Libya are adjacent. Algeria has a land area of 2.3817 million square kilometers. It is the largest country in Africa with a population of 30 million. Algeria has abundant oil and natural gas, with proven reserves of 1.34 billion tons of oil and 2.37 trillion cubic meters of proven recoverable reserves of natural gas.
Oil and natural gas are the pillars of Algeria's national economy.
Algeria's natural gas is exported to Europe through the Algeria-European Natural Gas Pipeline, the Algerian-Western Natural Gas Pipeline, the Trans-Mediterranean Natural Gas Pipeline, and the Algerian-Italian Natural Gas Pipeline, supplying 70 billion cubic meters of natural gas to Europe every year.
In addition to liquefied natural gas, at least 100 billion cubic meters of natural gas is supplied to Europe every year through shipping. As for oil exports, at least 730 million barrels of oil are exported to Europe every year, and 2 million barrels of oil are supplied to Europe almost every day.
It is precisely relying on oil and natural gas exports that Algeria ranks among the top four economies in Africa.
If it were not for the previous African war, which led to a large influx of refugees into Algeria and the conflict within Algeria, Algeria's situation would be much better than it is now, and it might even become a high-income country.
And Algeria has mercenaries!
Gaddafi is naturally aware of this. (End of this chapter)