Holy Roman Empire

Before European nations could declare their positions, the situation in South America shifted once again. Under the pressure of mutual dependence for survival, Peru chose to ally with Bolivia, leading to the full outbreak of the War of the Pacific.

With Peru’s entry into the war, the dynamics in South America became even more complicated. Initially, Chile had been dominating Bolivia on the battlefield, but with Peru joining the fight, the situation shifted to one that appeared evenly matched.

When military strength is nearly equal, diplomacy becomes crucial. In this era, the influence of the great powers carried significant weight, especially in situations of stalemate. Whichever side managed to secure the support of the major powers would gain the decisive advantage to tip the scales.

…

Downing Street, London

Foreign Secretary Edward said, “The situation in South America has always been unstable. The war between Chile, Bolivia, and Peru, beyond being a struggle for the mineral resources of the Atacama Desert, is also largely an effort to divert attention from internal conflicts.

Nearly all South American countries have territorial disputes with their neighbors, and most of them are plagued by severe internal issues, creating a strong incentive to externalize these tensions.

If we do not intervene in time, more nations are likely to get involved in this war. Should a full-scale conflict engulf South America, it would lead to a new round of reshuffling which does not align with our interests.

Currently, both warring sides are seeking our support. Considering our traditional ties, I propose we support Chile in winning this war.”

Although South American countries appear to have gained independence, in reality, they remain economic colonies of European powers, albeit with a more polished facade to make the arrangement less overtly exploitative.

Unsurprisingly, Britain has taken the largest share of the pie. As British newspapers famously described: “Argentina is our pasture, Peru is our silver mine, and Chile is our quarry…”

As the greatest beneficiary of the status quo, Britain naturally has no desire to see the regional balance disrupted.

If the conflict remains limited to the war between Chile, Peru, and Bolivia, Britain still has the capacity to control the situation. However, if a full-scale South American war erupts, it will no longer be up to the British government to dictate the outcome.

The times have changed. Both France and Austria have recently been relatively unoccupied, and they have long been eyeing Britain’s interests in South America.

Should a reshuffling of power occur, the three nations will inevitably engage in a new round of competition. Can Britain maintain its current advantage? This is a question worth pondering.

Economic competition is, in essence, another form of warfare, though one without the visible smoke of battle.

Looking at the numbers, nearly 60% of South American foreign trade is currently conducted with Britain, leaving the rest to be divided among other European and American nations.

Prime Minister Benjamin asked, “Have the Chileans agreed to our terms?”

In Britain, “traditional friendship” and “interests” are often synonymous. If the Foreign Office advocates for supporting Chile, there can only be one explanation: the Chileans are offering a better deal.

As for bilateral relations, those are secondary. Britain has many “minions,” and if the British government were obligated to support every single one, the government would have no time for anything else.

Foreign Secretary Edward replied, “Of course. In addition to pegging the Chilean peso to the British pound, the Chileans have also promised that if we help them win this war, we will gain the mining rights to the Atacama Desert.

The Atacama Desert holds the world’s largest deposits of saltpeter. Controlling this region means controlling the global saltpeter market. Both in terms of strategic and economic value, this is well worth our involvement.”

After hesitating briefly, Prime Minister Benjamin made his decision, “Try to secure exclusive rights. At the very least, if they authorize third parties, it must be with our prior consent.”

Promoting monetary dominance is the core goal, while controlling the saltpeter market is a secondary benefit. Prime Minister Benjamin was clear on the priorities.

“No problem!” Edward replied confidently.

With the world’s most powerful Royal Navy, Britain’s influence overseas has always been substantial. Even the combined forces of France and Austria are no match for Britain in South America.

From the perspective of strength, whoever secures British support will gain a significant advantage in the war.

…

At the presidential residence in Santiago, President Aníbal Pinto Garmendia was meeting with a group of special guests.

“Mr. President, we’ve done our part. Now it’s time for you to fulfill your promise,” said a middle-aged man dressed in luxurious attire. Though he wore a smile, his tone carried an unmistakable air of arrogance, with an underlying note of warning.

President Aníbal Pinto Garmendia frowned slightly. Clearly, the man’s demeanor displeased him, but as a seasoned politician, he kept his emotions in check.

With a warm smile, he replied, “Rest assured, Sir Locke. As long as we win this war, the mining rights in the Atacama Desert will be yours. However, the war is still ongoing. Even if I fulfill the promise now, there’s no way to implement it under the current circumstances!”

There was little choice since Britain’s moral flexibility was well-known. If they were granted everything they wanted in advance, who could guarantee they wouldn’t immediately resell it?

President Aníbal Pinto Garmendia lacked the power to directly influence the British government. His only option was to take a roundabout method, leveraging British capitalists to sway the British government.

In reality, this war itself had been orchestrated behind the scenes by British capitalists. Their primary aim was to monopolize the saltpeter trade while simultaneously promoting the dominance of the British pound.

Compared to Bolivia, which sought to balance the influences of Britain, France, and Austria, Chile was far more straightforward, steadfastly aligning itself with Britain.

Locke shook his head and then said, “No problem. We can sign the agreement first. The implementation can wait until after the war. I have plenty of patience.”

Just as President Aníbal Pinto Garmendia was worried, so too was Locke. Despite being British, he wasn’t immune to complications. Britain itself was rife with internal competition.

If the contract wasn’t signed soon, there was a risk that other factions within Britain could swoop in and seize the opportunity. When it came to profits, capitalists had no scruples.

To the British government, as long as the “meat” was in the pot, it didn’t matter who controlled it. But Locke didn’t want all his hard work to end up benefiting someone else.

After pausing for a moment, Locke added, “Mr. President, I hear your newly formed troops are short on weapons. I’m willing to privately sponsor equipment for one regiment.”

Seeing that President Aníbal Pinto Garmendia appeared tempted, Locke raised the stakes, “These are standard-issue British Army weapons, and I’ll throw in one million rounds of ammunition and five thousand artillery shells.”

After much hesitation, President Aníbal Pinto Garmendia shook his head. He wanted the equipment, but accepting it was tricky.

Locke’s expression darkened and he offered, “Two regiments’ worth of equipment!”

President Aníbal Pinto Garmendia appeared to be in an intense internal struggle, his indecision written all over his face.

Locke pressed on, “Three regiments’ worth of equipment!”

“This is my final offer. If the President still cannot accept it, I’ll have to find someone else to work with.”

“Deal!” President Aníbal Pinto Garmendia finally answered, his voice strained.

Once again, it was proven that there is no problem weapons and equipment cannot solve. If there is, it simply means there weren’t enough weapons and equipment.

South American countries were far from peaceful, and Chile was no exception. Gaining the presidency didn’t necessarily require an election, but it always required the support of the military.

Under such circumstances, whoever became president had to protect the interests of their backers.

Weapons and equipment were the best tools for winning over the military. Even if President Aníbal Pinto Garmendia wanted to refuse, the people behind the scenes would not allow him to.