Chapter 619 George W. Bush's **

Ukrainian President Yushenko was waiting for the news of the talks in his office, looking a little absent-minded.

As a member of the former Soviet Union, Ukraine's economic system is largely similar to that of the former Soviet Union. That is, the military industry is developed, while light industry and other fields are weak. This kind of "weird" caused by the former Soviet Union has caused Ukraine's economy to show negative growth after the collapse of the former Soviet Union. In the first few years of disintegration, Ukraine's main economy was even supported by the military industry.

This situation was not changed until the beginning of the 21st century, and the economy began to recover, with an annual economic growth rate of even exceeding 10% in 2002-04.

However, this 'high-speed' economic growth rate is caused by the sudden filling of some blank areas. It can also be said that some heavy industries are desperately squeezing the last drop of blood. The high-speed economic growth declined in 2005, only less than 3%, and hovered below 5% for the next two years.

This situation has prompted several political axes to make every effort to revive the economy. The compression of military expenditure and the reduction of military expenditure are an important means to relieve fiscal pressure.

However, it is absolutely impossible for a country to be defenseless. In particular, Ukraine, a country that inherits a large amount of the "wealth" of the former Soviet Union, is coveted by countless countries and organizations.

With the stabilization of the domestic economy and the reduction of inflation, the political axe and the military have begun to consider forming a modern army to formulate plans. It is expected to build a modern army with appropriate scale and advanced equipment in 2015.

But all of this is based on one condition, that is, there are enough funds. Whether it is for the research and development of new weapons, production and manufacturing, it requires a large amount of money to provide enough military expenses for the army and improve the treatment of officers and soldiers.

As President, Youshenko closed his eyes to the various means used by some domestic groups to seek funds, as long as they were not too much.

For example, the Supreme Soviet (Parliament) packs and auctions a large number of stored Soviet weapons every year, which is a means to obtain funds.

This time, the Somali political axe threw a big order, not the kind of 'tender' order, but directly to Ukraine. Yushenko was very satisfied and happy. He believes that this is another kind of help for Ukraine.

After all, in today's society, as long as you have money, you can buy most advanced weapons. There is no need to come forward in person. As long as there is a trace of talk, a large group of salesmen from international arms dealers will come to the door. Somali political axes can choose this method to get the maximum benefit at the least cost.

Although Ukraine's political axe has also inherited a lot of military industry and technology in the former Soviet Union, it is still much worse than Russia.

Therefore, Yushenko secretly decided that he must give 'Somali friends' a suitable price, at least not let 'Somali friends' suffer. Business, we all pay attention to a win-win situation. Somalia's political axe has purchased four missile boats in Ukraine worth 45 million US dollars. If this big order is reached, the relationship between the two countries will definitely be closer because of arms sales. Yushenko believes that as long as the Ukrainian political axe expresses enough sincerity to give the Somali political axe a discount this time, the Ukrainian political axe is likely to take over the next order of the Somali political axe.

Ukraine's military technology is very strong, but it lacks funds to turn these technologies into physical objects. Therefore, it is impossible to upgrade the advanced technology in hand. Few discerning people know that for a long time, Ukraine's technology will sooner or later become a pile of rubbish, and Ukraine's political axe is bound to be squeezed out of a large arms-selling country.

Yushenko is even thinking that Ukraine has technology and Somalia has money. Although he doesn't know where the Somali political axe got the funds, he is not in charge of them. If the two countries cooperate, I'm afraid it will be extremely beneficial to both sides.

Of course, these ideas are just a childish figure in Yushenko's mind, and this matter can't be decided by him alone. If the Somali political axe sends a large order, so that both the Ukrainian political axe and the military have a good impression on Somalia and establish friendship, this idea may also become a reality.

"President, the presidential line from the White House, do you want to pick it in?" Just as Yushenko was happily fantasizing about bringing Ukraine's military industry back to the road of commercial cooperation and sustainable development through cooperation, a staff member of the presidential palace came in and asked in a low voice.

You Xianke's face condensed and nodded solemnly, "Give it in immediately."

After 15 minutes, You Xianke hung up the phone with a strange face. The call came directly from the White House. Naturally, it is U.S. President George W. Bush who can talk to him directly.

On the phone, George W. Bush talked about the only friendship between Ukraine and the United States on the phone, and mentioned Ukraine's current diplomatic focus: giving priority to joining the European Union and NATO. George W. Bush hinted on the phone that the U.S. political axe would try its best to remove obstacles for Ukraine's accession to the European Union and NATO.

These words naturally make Yushenko happy. Ukraine's foreign policy has been focusing on the relations between major powers, which means that it is good relations with the eastern and western powers at the same time, and is not completely politically biased towards one side. Since 2002, Ukraine has deepened high-level exchanges with Russia, and there are mutual visits between the prime ministers and even the presidents of the two countries every year. At the same time, Ukraine hopes to become a "contact member" of the European Union, just like a "membership disciple", and hopes to join NATO and become a member of NATO. However, before the Iraq war, Ukraine sold military radar to Iraq, which aroused the strong dissatisfaction of the U.S. political axe, and even publicly criticized the Ukrainian political axe, and led to dissatisfaction with the United States within the Ukrainian political axe. There was no movement after joining NATO for a long time.

Although countries around the world are not as polarized as they were during the Cold War, they are also divided into a huge camp. If Ukraine wants to make friends with both sides, it is certainly not a problem in general. But it will not be included in the 'core' by your own camp. Neither the United States nor the European Union wants Ukraine to step on two boats, so the acceptance of Ukraine has been delayed for various reasons.

This time, George W. Bush's sudden mention of opening an opening for Ukraine will certainly make Yushenko excited. But next, George W. Bush vaguely pointed out on the phone that Ukraine, as a 'military power' and a non-permanent member of the Security Council, has a heavy responsibility to maintain regional peace and stability. When selling arms to foreign countries, it should seriously consider that advanced weapons will not be obtained by some organizations that undermine regional and even global peace and stability.

It was not until he hung up the phone that Yushenko understood why George W. Bush called at night. The emotion is about arms sales to Somalia.

Some time ago, the Soacon War broke out, and the American political axe may be involved in it. It is not a secret to the outside world, let alone the president of a country like him. Of course, there are intelligence agencies and networks to obtain some confidential information.

The American political axe and the Somali political axe are not the right way!

George W. Bush called to remind Yushenko of this and let him make a choice by joining NATO.

This is embarrassing for Yushenko. The benefits of joining NATO are huge. After all, NATO can be said to be the largest organization in the world at present, except for the United Nations. Following the largest organization, it is naturally delicious and spicy. Safety is also guaranteed.

But Yushenko is the president of a country, old fox. Of course, I can't believe all of George W. Bush's words. After all, when did you join NATO? One year or five years? Hints like this on the phone can't be counted at all. Yushenko will not believe that if George W. Bush implies this, he will definitely fulfill it.

At present, arms sales to Somalia are the benefits that can be seen.

Although on the whole, joining NATO is definitely more cost-effective than an order of hundreds of millions of dollars. But You Xianke understands that there is no free lunch in the world, not to mention whether the American political axe will fulfill its promise. Once Ukraine joins NATO, it is bound to be bound by the alliance, and it is impossible to imagine that it is now.

Yushenko was embarrassed and called the Speaker and Prime Minister. Three people study it together.

When Yushenko said what George W. Bush hinted on the phone, the speaker and the prime minister were also embarrassed. Agreing to George W. Bush's hints and refusing to sell arms to Somalia will not only push a large number of orders out, but also offend Somalia. The most important thing is that Ukraine's military and political circles are now staring at this matter, or staring at the US dollars in Somalia's pocket and rejecting Somalia, Yushenko will offend a large number of people in the country. A few years after the public accusations of the United States, there are still many officials who are dissatisfied with the American political axe. Once these people make trouble, they will have a great impact.

Choosing to continue negotiations with Somalia must offend the United States. In this way, joining NATO has become a fool's dream. It will even affect the diplomatic relations between Ukraine and the United States.

"President, the current NATO is no longer the previous NATO." Just then, the Prime Minister said.

Yushenko and the speaker were stunned when they heard the words and didn't figure out the meaning of the Prime Minister's words for a while.

"The existence of NATO is due to the establishment of the Yalta system of the world strategic pattern after World War II. In the past, the Warsaw Pact led by the Soviet Union and the two major military alliances led by the United States confronted each other. With the end of the Cold War, the former Soviet Union and the dissolution of the Warsaw Pact, the existence of NATO has affected the balance of the world. Especially for Europe, NATO is a curse and a sign of the United States' control of the European defense system. The large reason for the emergence of the European Union later is that European countries are unwilling to be controlled by the United States. After all, the large number of nuclear weapons and troops deployed by the United States in Europe have affected the reading autonomy of European countries and made European countries feel deeply uneasy... For our country, joining NATO is not an ideal choice, and It is in our current interests to follow the 'European Strategy'. The Prime Minister has said so much, which means that he can't join NATO, otherwise he will be controlled and influenced by the United States.

(to be continued)