Neutral Nations of WW2: Saudi Arabia
- 6 years ago
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Saudi Arabia was an economic backwater until the eve of WWII. Their exports were mainly agricultural products and knives, but little else. They were shunned in the great oil explorations of the 20s because people understood Iraqi geology better than Saudi Arabia. It would be the Americans who took serious interest in exploring for oil in that neck of the woods, and they didn't strike any until 1938.
At first, the US government didn't realize the strategic significance of what would become Aramco. The US was self reliant in oil, and was able to keep England supplied with enough fuel to stay in the war. They also helped expand Soviet use of motor gasoline despite the decline in Russian refining capacity over the war. The tipping point came in early 1943 - which indicates why the refinery was hastily constructed.
Prior to the outbreak of World War II, Saudi Arabia was on good terms with the Axis powers, concluding an arms agreement with Nazi Germany on the eve of the war. The outbreak of the war and attendant shipping dangers had brought Saudi Arabian oil sales to a halt. In 1943 Franklin Roosevelt declared that the defense of Saudi Arabia was of vital interest to the United States, thus making the kingdom eligible for Lend-Lease assistance.
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Want to watch more Neutrals of WW2? Click here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLURsyoSxdtCyGq5GSJdhOWFzBTzRIVVCQ
Saudi Arabia was an economic backwater until the eve of WWII. Their exports were mainly agricultural products and knives, but little else. They were shunned in the great oil explorations of the 20s because people understood Iraqi geology better than Saudi Arabia. It would be the Americans who took serious interest in exploring for oil in that neck of the woods, and they didn't strike any until 1938.
At first, the US government didn't realize the strategic significance of what would become Aramco. The US was self reliant in oil, and was able to keep England supplied with enough fuel to stay in the war. They also helped expand Soviet use of motor gasoline despite the decline in Russian refining capacity over the war. The tipping point came in early 1943 - which indicates why the refinery was hastily constructed.
Prior to the outbreak of World War II, Saudi Arabia was on good terms with the Axis powers, concluding an arms agreement with Nazi Germany on the eve of the war. The outbreak of the war and attendant shipping dangers had brought Saudi Arabian oil sales to a halt. In 1943 Franklin Roosevelt declared that the defense of Saudi Arabia was of vital interest to the United States, thus making the kingdom eligible for Lend-Lease assistance.