How Saudi Arabia bought Dongfeng 3 missiles from China

Mondo Military Updated on 2024-02-18

In the Middle East, Saudi Arabia is a large country with huge influence, where there is a lot of oil and gas and Muslim faith. However, Saudi Arabia is not a peaceful place, and has been threatened and oppressed by neighboring countries before, especially in the 80s, the situation in the Middle East is even more messy, especially the Iran-Iraq war and Israel's aggression against Lebanon, which has made Saudi Arabia anxious. For the purpose of safeguarding its own interests, Saudi Arabia has decided to purchase a powerful DF-3 missile from China.

The DF-3 is the first medium-range intercontinental missile developed by China, which is capable of carrying missiles capable of striking some areas of the Middle East and even the Soviet Union at a range of 2,800 kilometers. Such a ** is undoubtedly a powerful deterrent for Saudi Arabia, and it is also to deter other major powers and make them unwilling to provoke themselves. However, Saudi Arabia is not so easy to buy Chinese missiles, but after rounds of confidential consultations and exchanges, it finally locked the target in its own hands.

Saudi Arabia's original intention was to buy arms from the United States, which at that time was a powerful country and at the same time an ally of Saudi Arabia. But the United States was reluctant to sell ballistic missiles to Saudi Arabia, and even the "Lance" 120 kilometers away was vetoed by Saudi Arabia. The U.S. justified this on the grounds that they did not want the arms race in the Middle East to intensify, or that Saudi Arabia might have a nuclear **. The Saudis are both frustrated and in danger by the United States, and when they learn that Iran is secretly developing its own missiles, Iran becomes a great danger.

Saudi Arabia turned to other arms dealers, and finally set its sights on China. As a rising country, China not only has its own DF-3 missiles, but also does not have so many constraints in terms of arms exports. Saudi Arabia, in its capacity as an envoy, sent the US envoy to China, Bandar, on a mysterious visit to China and expressed its willingness to buy Chinese DF-3s. China has accepted Saudi Arabia's request in principle and has expressed its willingness to purchase from Saudi Arabia. Subsequently, the two began specific negotiations, including the number of missiles, the first technology, and the launch code.

The negotiation was not very successful, and the two men had their own considerations. The Saudis want full control of the DF-3 (DF-3), including a secret key that China wants to authorize to stop the Saudis from attacking. Saudi Arabia has come up with a budget of $85 billion to persuade China to show its willingness to purchase the DF-3. China sent a goodwill signal to Saudi Arabia by inviting Prince Sultan, the head of the Saudi defense department, to China, where he inspected the launch platform of the DF-3 type, demonstrating the strength of the DF-3. In the end, the two countries signed a deal in Hong Kong, in which China sold 36 DF-3s to Saudi Arabia for $100 million, but the secret key to the rocket remained in China's hands.

This agreement is the largest deal ever made by China, and it is also the largest deal ever made by Saudi Arabia. This agreement not only brings huge foreign currency benefits to China, but also establishes a significant image for it on a global scale. For Saudi Arabia, this will be a major improvement, as well as a major step forward for the world. After Saudi Arabia got the DF-3, it was not announced to the public, but the countries of the Middle East have noticed the change in Saudi Arabia, and their views on Saudi Arabia have also undergone a subtle change. It is with this DF-3 that Saudi Arabia has been able to exchange for more than 30 years of peace.

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