Chapter 1088 The strategic significance of the Red Sea route
Of course, this is uncertain. After all, a country has many issues to consider, especially a country like the United Kingdom that holds world hegemony. If they can cooperate, East Africa will naturally be willing to accept this result. If the goal cannot be achieved, East Africa will not Don't care too much, after all, after more than ten years, East Africa has become accustomed to it.
Ernst continued: "The last item is also one of the focuses of this negotiation with the United Kingdom, which is to obtain an overseas stronghold in the Indian Ocean region from the United Kingdom as much as possible. This is an important part of the empire's grand strategy for India. If this goal can be achieved through this round of negotiations, even if it costs more, it will be acceptable.”
Merck frowned and asked: "Your Highness, the British will not agree with this, right? Even if the British agree, they will not be able to allocate a good place from their own hands to us."
Ernst nodded and said: "I have also considered this, but there is nothing we can do about it. Apart from us and France, the rest of the Indian Ocean coast is almost directly ruled or indirectly affected by the British."
“So as a country with the Indian Ocean as its core interest, we want to expand our influence in the Indian Ocean. The best way is to achieve this through consultation with the United Kingdom.”
"As for whether the UK is willing or not, we have the initiative in this matter. If we want us to compromise on the navy, the UK will naturally have to show sincerity. As for whether it is a bad place, it depends on the subsequent bargaining with the British. "
East African officials also agree with what Ernst said. There is nothing that cannot be discussed. If it cannot be discussed, it means that East Africa has not developed enough.
Whitt said: "British power on the Indian Ocean coast can be roughly divided into four areas, first the Red Sea coast, then the Persian Gulf coast, then India, and finally the South Pacific region, of course, Australia is among them."
“India and Australia are the core colonies of the United Kingdom. We definitely cannot pursue these two places. As for other directions, only the coast of the Persian Gulf may be possible.”
In the Southeast Asia region, the British will definitely not let go of the Strait of Malacca, a world-class sea channel. As for the Red Sea coast, the British simply do not dare to let East Africa in.
The main trade route between East Africa and Europe has always been through the Red Sea. Although the economy of the west coast of East Africa has developed in recent years, the most important Central and Eastern European markets in East Africa cannot geographically bypass the two nodes of the Mediterranean, namely the United Kingdom. Control of the Strait of Gibraltar, as well as the Red Sea shipping lanes.
Although the forces surrounding the Red Sea route are complicated, the key Suez Canal and Bab el-Mandeb Strait are both under British control.
Assuming that East Africa controls stable access to and from the Mediterranean, it would be an absolute disaster for the British strategic layout, so the British will definitely not let it go.
As for the reason, it is very clear if you think about it simply. If East Africa controls stable access to and from the Mediterranean, then East Africa can maintain its independence in trade and exchanges with European countries, and bypass the United Kingdom.
Looking at the world today, in addition to East Africa, Germany and the Austro-Hungarian Empire all have German attributes. Germany is a genuine German country, and Austria has a higher proportion of voice in the Austro-Hungarian Empire. As for East Africa, although it is because of The reason for the national structure is not pure enough, but it is also irrefutably German.
If East Africa controls the Red Sea route and can freely enter and exit the Mediterranean area, then the German countries in the world can be connected from Northern Europe to the Mediterranean and then to the African continent.
Furthermore, if East Africa or Germany and the Austro-Hungarian Empire control the Red Sea route, it will mean that the situation in Europe is out of control. East Africa is already huge and controls a large amount of strategic materials in the world, such as grain, cotton, rubber, and various minerals. If the German countries merge and receive a steady stream of material support from East Africa, the war potential of Germany and the Austro-Hungarian Empire will directly rise to a higher level. There will be almost no shortage of large quantities of war materials. Coupled with Germany's abundant military ethics, I am afraid that the European pattern will be changed. will change it.
Regarding this scene, the East African government has naturally had "fantasies". If it can control the Red Sea route, East Africa will not mind giving Germany and the Austro-Hungarian Empire more confidence in the war.
In turn, the British must also know the importance of the Red Sea route, and the British government must also be able to see the harm that the Red Sea route will cause to the United Kingdom if it falls to the German countries.
Only by firmly controlling the Red Sea route can the German countries not merge, and a "monster" spanning Europe and the African continent not be released by the British. This is not only the idea of the British, but also of France, Tsarist Russia, etc. So true.
At least in recent years, Britain and France have significantly increased their spending on the Red Sea coast, and it goes without saying who the two countries are guarding against, that is East Africa.
Of course, the characteristics of the Red Sea route also made the British and French blockade of East Africa relatively successful. The Red Sea has two gates, the Suez Canal and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. No matter which one controls it, East Africa cannot rush into the Mediterranean.
If the most critical moment comes, the British and French governments are fully capable of blowing up the Suez Canal and paralyzing this world's main trade route.
The double insurance of the Red Sea route has greatly improved Britain's ability to control the Red Sea route. The navy can hardly play a big role in the narrow space of the Red Sea. It is also very difficult for East Africa to seize control of the Red Sea route from land, mainly because Land transportation on both sides of the Red Sea is really difficult. Not only is the terrain complex, but also deserts are spread all over, which is not suitable for large-scale troop activities. However, Britain and France can effectively support Egypt and other Red Sea coastal countries through the convenient conditions of the Mediterranean.
In fact, as long as Egypt is ensured not to fall into the hands of East Africa, Britain and France have many ways to deal with East Africa. Of course, the above assumption is that East Africa stands in the German camp.
In fact, if East Africa really joins the European war, it is hard to say the direction of the war, but East Africa obviously does not want to start a war easily, especially in East Africa's current stage of rapid economic development.
Furthermore, the risk of participating in the war is not something East Africa can bear. If it wins, it will be okay, but if it loses, East Africa will feel uncomfortable.
In fact, this is also a pessimistic attitude toward war within the East African government. East Africa's current geographical location and national strength are naturally unsuitable for participating in European wars.
The main sea lanes are controlled by the British. It is very difficult for East Africa to seize these sea lanes from the British. Assuming that East Africa does not seize the sea lanes within the scheduled time, and Germany and the Austro-Hungarian Empire are defeated, East Africa may face being conquered. Risk of assault.
Although Germany in its previous life showed the momentum of being one against five in World War I, who dares to say that Germany in this time and space still has such luck. Luck is equally important to war. If Germany makes a mistake in a major battle, Germany will be ahead of schedule. It failed!
This is not impossible to happen. In the previous war, a stalemate was reached. Germany and France stabilized the situation on the front line, thus turning Germany and France into meat grinders. This stalemate illustrates Germany's military strength. In fact, there is no crushing advantage over France.
Of course, in addition to these factors, the most important thing in East Africa is the possibility of the United States and Russia picking the peaches behind their backs.
There is no need to say more about the United States. The United States’ ideas are almost the same as those of the current East African government. The general idea is to wait and see first. In Ernst’s view, Russia’s performance in the previous life was also a destabilizing factor. Although it was said that it was due to an internal coup, Russia withdrew from the war, but this does not mean that Russia is incapable of rejoining. After all, if Britain and France are desperate, they can promise benefits that the new Russian regime cannot easily refuse.
(End of this chapter)