24 OPEC
"It's tasty, though"
I countered.
"Hmph. Tea is far more delicious than cola."
"....!!!!"
I was shocked by Yasmin's statement.
To dare compare the hot and bitter tea with the cold, sweet, and fizzy cola!
If she hadn't been my beautiful sister with a desirable figure, I might have flipped her teacup over in retaliation for such blasphemy.
"Ha... One would think you studied in England, not France, with that attitude."
I said with a forced chuckle.
Yasmin blinked rapidly at my remark, then her eyes widened as if she remembered something important.
"...Ah! That's right. You lost your memory, didn't you? I almost forgot."
Yasmin clapped her hands, looking at me.
"...What do you mean by that?"
"Our mother, who gave birth to me, was British, you know? It's not for nothing that I look like a mix of Caucasian and Middle Eastern."
"Ah…"
"I didn't realize you had forgotten that too…"
At Yasmin's words, I closed my eyes quietly. I offered a silent prayer of thanks to my father's first wife, who had given me such a voluptuous and beautiful sister with a warm heart (?).
However, with my eyes closed, some rather mischievous thoughts began to intrude.
'Wait a minute. If Yasmin is this attractive and alluring, then-'
"Was our first mother just as voluptuous?"
"You're insane!"
"...Ah! Did I just say that out loud?"
"Yes, you bad boy! What kind of fantasies do you have that they slip out like that?!"
-Smack
Stars appeared in the sky, along with the flushed cheeks of an embarrassed girl.
***
In March 1973, while the United States was preoccupied with Vietnam, Sultan Faisal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of the Arabian Empire began to seriously weaponize oil.
He brought together three of the top five oil-producing countries, excluding the United States, wary of a potential backstab, and the Soviet Union, which vehemently despised monarchies.
'The Soviet Union, even if not a part of OPEC, would certainly reduce production if we raised oil prices, aligning with OPEC's actions.'
The Sultan was confident because, by the 1970s, the Soviet economy was slowly deteriorating.
In 1938, the Soviet Union had risen as the world's second-largest economy after the USA and firmly held the reins of communist hegemony.
Despite the tragic loss of 30 million lives in World War II, the Soviet economy had made significant strides afterward.
The 1950s saw rapid growth, refurbishing the entire country's infrastructure.
In the 1960s, the Soviet Union maintained high economic growth through the exploitation of its natural resources, heavy industry, and the military-industrial complex.
Until now….
had the Soviet Union been pushing too hard?
From the 1970s, the Soviet economy began to experience a severe downturn.
In such a situation, any signs of rising oil prices?
For the Soviet Union, which accounted for 18% of the global oil market and produced 9.5 million barrels daily, this was almost a blessing.
Of course, considering the size of the Soviet economy, it wouldn't be a game-changer like it could be for the Middle Eastern oil-producing countries.
However, it would undoubtedly be a golden opportunity to extend the life of the nation by a few years, if not a decade or more.
"So, the Soviet Union will inevitably act to extend its national lifespan… Is that why you only invited the other oil-producing countries?"
"That's right."
I asked, rubbing my slightly swollen cheek.
Yasmin, the cause of my discomfort but also knowledgeable in international politics and economics, nodded.
Iran Empire with 6 million barrels a day and a 12% market share, Venezuela with 3 million barrels and a 6% share, and the Arabian Empire with 16 million barrels and 32%.
Representatives from countries constituting 50% of the global oil market gathered in Riyadh, the heart of the Arabian Empire.
However, the OPEC formation and the drive for energy dominance, led by the Arabian Empire, hit a snag.
Specifically, Venezuela was causing trouble, led by their representative, Jerome Vasquez.
Anyone familiar with Venezuela would understand their position was not entirely unjustified.
-Murmurs
"So Venezuela opposes the OPEC monopoly over oil pricing?"
"Yes! We cannot completely entrust the fate of our country to an OPEC dominated by the Arabian Empire's influence! Our economy would collapse without oil!"
"But uniting under OPEC could prevent imperialist nations from destabilizing us-"
Jerome Vasquez cut off Ahmed Zaki Yamani, the Arabian Empire's representative, and raised his voice, filled with anger and frustration towards the oblivious Middle Eastern countries.
"Ahmed Zaki Yamani! No, everyone here! You all need to realize what we're doing! This unity is provoking the superpower, the U.S.!!"
"....."
"No, it's not just provocation. It's going to enrage them!! You brainless fools."
"...Please refrain from using profanity in an official setting."
"No. Swearing is the least of our problems! Are you all being too optimistic about this situation?"
I shook my head at Vasquez's comment.
It didn't make sense to me.
In my past life, both the first and second oil crises had benefited the Middle East without war, and the U.S. and Europe had staggered under the impact.
"Optimistic? The U.S. is already-"
"In a world where every industry depends on oil, raising its price is akin to pushing the global economy to the brink of collapse!!"
"We are aware. Oil-producing countries will reap astronomical profits in a high-price environment."
"Nonsense!!!"
Vasquez, who knew the fearsome nature of the U.S. better than the Arab countries, shouted. Unlike the Arabs, who only saw the friendly face of the U.S. defending the oil and energy market, Venezuela still remembered.
Remembered the United States capable of mass slaughter for the sake of maintaining American hegemony.
"Do you really think the U.S. is easy to handle? Sure, it might seem that way since they can't even defeat Vietnam and are struggling."
"...."
"But our situation is different from Vietnam's! Completely different!!"
"How so?"
"Some say the three main elements of a nation are territory, population, and sovereignty, but that's nonsense! The true pillars of a nation are food, energy, and security! With these, a nation naturally forms... And right now, we are tampering with America's energy."
Arab countries, naively planning to not just tickle the sleeping lion but to sever its limb, left the Venezuelan side in utter disbelief.
***
Before the OPEC meeting, in the capital of Venezuela, Caracas (Distrito Capital), a country that was once one of the wealthiest in South America with its GDP per capita reaching the fourth highest in the world in 1950.
A person entered one of the most heavily guarded areas in the nation's capital.
"Have you arrived?"
"Yes, Mr. President."
