Tailor-Made

Ernst had always valued such vast, sparsely populated regions, because that also meant they were more malleable. Luzon Island, on the other hand, was the core of the Philippines and a region Spain had long since integrated, so Ernst was not interested in it.

Of course, the Americans still had to play the villain. Although East Africa had designs on the Philippines, that did not hinder the friendly relations between the two countries in the slightest.

Just as Ernst had placed Spain last on this visit, it signified importance, and Alfonso XII greatly enjoyed this feeling of being respected.

Spain was still a world power of great renown, but like Portugal, its national fortunes had been declining. Still, it was far stronger than Portugal. After all, its homeland was large enough to provide the foundation of a great power even in Europe.

Northern Province.

For the Eurasian Fruit Basket Plan to proceed smoothly, the governments of Northern Province and Juba Province were bound to join forces, coordinate development, raise regional productivity, and unlock the industrial advantages of both provinces. Thus, the two sides held discussions in Mogadishu.

"In the Somalia region, our advantages in developing an export-oriented agricultural economy are obvious. But at the same time, we face considerable risks. The greatest threat to agriculture is the desert locust, and Northern Province and Juba Province are both major breeding grounds for these locusts.

"Therefore, to ensure the healthy development of regional agriculture and stable fiscal revenue, we must put real effort into locust control. This is not merely the responsibility of Northern Province; it is also closely tied to Juba Province."

"Desert locusts are the greatest agricultural hazard in the Somalia region. Both our provinces agree on this. Locust plagues break out every year, though their scale has remained