12. The US-Saudi Oil Pact (1945)
In 1945, the United States and Saudi Arabia set aside vast cultural and political differences to forge a pivotal oil-for-security alliance. This partnership, sealed aboard a U.S. warship, established American access to Saudi oil in exchange for military protection. The pact dramatically shaped global energy markets and Middle Eastern geopolitics for generations. It stands as a vivid example of how strategic interests can unite even the most unlikely partners on the world stage.
