Chapter 1107: Chapter 116: Make the Circle Bigger
Islands naturally possess defensive qualities, able to isolate risks from land-based powers. The United Kingdom has leveraged this quality to stir up continental Europe while ensuring the safety of its homeland as long as it maintains naval superiority.
The same holds true in the Persian Gulf Region, where the United Kingdom occupies several of the most important islands, such as the largest Ghashem Island, Great Tongbu Island that restricts the Hormuz Strait, Little Tongbu Island and Abu Musa Island, within the Persian Gulf Bahrain Island.
The United Kingdom essentially uses these islands as bases to control the entire political landscape of the Persian Gulf, thus it is certain that the United Kingdom will not cede these islands to East Africa.
The Pirate Coast, also known as the United Arab Emirates, along with Qatar, belong to secondary powers under British control in the Persian Gulf Region. Given Qatar’s peninsula geography and proximity to Bahrain, it is also not something the United Kingdom would easily relinquish.
As for other locations, although British influence is substantial, they are not directly under British control. Even though the Pirate Coast or Qatar are somewhat under Britain’s grasp because their low value makes them convenient holdings.
The only local industry of value is pearl diving; historically, Qatar and Bahrain were part of one country. Later on, the Bahraini royal family moved to Bahrain to harvest pearls, resulting in the steward left in Qatar declaring himself king.
This melodramatic incident somewhat reflects the state of poverty along the coast of the Persian Gulf from the 19th to early 20th century.
This is the main reason East African Government negotiators were unsatisfied with the terms offered by the British government.
Frier candidly told Russell: "This place not only lacks economic output, but the area you’ve allocated is too small—even the entire Pirate Coast is only comprised of a few tribes, not even enough to constitute a country, hence your country shows little sincerity."
The Pirate Coast, also known in a previous life as the United Arab Emirates, is officially named the United Arab Emirates, and the name itself indicates the nature of the country, essentially a coalition of several tribal groups formed into a nation.
After all, chieftains as rulers, East Africa is familiar with, having encountered many throughout its conquest of indigenous peoples, having killed not tens of thousands but at least thousands.
The highest political powers on the Pirate Coast truly have no fundamental difference with those on the African Continent, primarily based on basic tribal civilization.
Frier continued: "Moreover, the name Pirate Coast itself reveals that the specialty of this area is piracy; the locals rely on piracy for their livelihood, so if we, East Africa, take over, it would essentially be a loss-making endeavor."
The Pirate Coast was actually originally part of territory of the Oman Empire. In the 18th century, frequent internal strife in Oman led local leaders in the UAE regions to proclaim themselves Emir, becoming independent regimes. At that time, both Arab and European merchant ships were often plundered by these small states in the region, earning it the name "Pirate Coast."
In the 19th century, the British East India Company dispatched fleets to destroy coastal fortresses at Ras Al Khaimah, Sharjah, Dubai, among other places, to ensure the smooth passage of routes from India to Egypt.
It is also evident that designating the region as a colony was not because it was of great importance, but to curb piracy and, most importantly, to maintain the security of British trading routes.
Therefore, the Pirate Coast initially was a burden for the British, as there wasn’t much profit for them yearly and extra maintenance costs were incurred.
The United Kingdom now wants to offload this burden to East Africa, simultaneously exchanging it for political gain, killing two birds with one stone.
Russell also clearly understands this point, so he has to engage in some degree of whitewashing the Pirate Coast to elevate its "price."
Russell said: "Mr. Frier, you’re mistaken; the Pirate Coast is quite important. East Africa is itself a major agricultural producer, and you do not need the Pirate Coast as a food production base; thus, the climate issue of the Pirate Coast is actually not a significant concern for your country. Securing this territory grants East Africa a stable base, thereby establishing a certain political influence in the Persian Gulf."
"After all, overseas territories must be evaluated not just economically but also politically. There is no doubt that obtaining suzerainty here presents enormous benefits for your country’s political influence in the Persian Gulf."
Russell’s argument holds some truth; however, colonial activities are inherently driven by economic benefits, and there are numerous historical instances where Western colonial powers abandoned colonies due to financial deficits. One typical example being Russia’s sale of Alaska to the Rhein Royal Family, essentially due to Russia’s low economic valuation of Alaska.
Looking at the economic value of the Pirate Coast from today’s perspective, it’s even less than Alaska. Under East African governance, Alaska yields fur, timber, and mineral products, whereas the Pirate Coast’s sole presentable asset is the previously mentioned pearl industry.
However, the pearl industry is insufficient to propel the development of the Pirate Coast, which could be considered one of the most impoverished regions globally.
Moreover, its climate is excessively harsh. Under East African governance, Alaska at least possesses a temperate oceanic climate suitable for human habitation, with certain agricultural foundations, at least conditions for potatoes, barley, and vegetable cultivation.
In contrast, the Pirate Coast suffers extreme freshwater scarcity, nomadic activities achieve only through minimal camel breeding, and crop production is nearly negligible.
This aspect is reflected in the population of the Pirate Coast: although there are no precise figures, according to East African Government assessments, the current population is probably only a few tens of thousands.
Considering the area of the Pirate Coast exceeds a hundred thousand square kilometers, this scant population is already its limit at present.
During the previous existence of the United Arab Emirates gaining independence from British hands, the population was only around three hundred thousand, and that was decades later when the UAE had developed its oil industry for years. So at this point, East Africa referring to the Pirate Coast as barren land is not depreciative but rather a truthful depiction.
This is the fundamental reason why East African government officials overlook the Pirate Coast. If relying solely on the Pirate Coast’s own output, even if the indigenous population were cleared, East Africa could settle at most tens of thousands of its population there.
While East Africa is not affluent, the living standards of its citizens are far superior to those of the inhabitants in such genuinely impoverished backwaters like the Pirate Coast. Resources that once supported the local indigenous lifestyle are insufficient to sustain a similar scale of East African residents.
Thus, Frier told Russell: "The value of the Pirate Coast is too low, so if it is the bargaining chip, the United Kingdom ought to make greater concessions, such as enlarging the plotted territory to encompass the entire Pirate Coast."
"In fact, the only appealing aspect is the Alin Oasis. At least it contains some freshwater resources, while other areas have little value."
The Alin Oasis is the largest on the Pirate Coast, encompassing over ninety percent of the freshwater resources of the previous life’s United Arab Emirates.
Still, even the best land on the Pirate Coast holds little value in the eyes of East African government officials. While the Alin Oasis is not a desert, it’s not significantly different.
The only truly valuable feature is its freshwater resources; during the previous life, the strongest Abu Dhabi tribe in the United Arab Emirates developed around this oasis, with the oasis being its earliest capital before the capital relocated to the coastline due to oil industry development.
Frier, holding a red pencil, under Russell’s gaze, encompassed the entire Pirate Coast, approximately within the range of the previous life’s United Arab Emirates.
Actually, if it weren’t for Ernst’s prior instructions, Frier wouldn’t have entertained the British offer. After all, encircling such a vast desert holds almost no value for East Africa; at least from the majority of East African officials’ perspective, this is not a wise deal.
