History suggests that some wars fought between the 17th and 19th centuries were driven by the desire to control natural resources. The rise of industrialism spurred a struggle for raw materials. For instance, Chile engaged in armed conflict with Bolivia and Peru over control of guano mineral deposits during the War of the Pacific (1879–1884). In more recent times, the 1991 Gulf War often gets reflected as a conflict over resources. The United States justified initiation of war by invoking the Carter Doctrine, which stated that the US would use military force to defend its national interests in the Persian Gulf. However, today the US appears less inclined to fight wars directly over resources. Instead, it is leveraging ongoing conflicts to manage and secure access to vital natural resources. US President Donald Trump wants Ukraine to pay for the military support provided by the US to fight against Russia. In kind, he wants access to Ukraine’s Mineral Resources and Rare Earth Elements.
Ukraine’s Strategic Minerals: Trump’s War Alimony (Ajey Lele, Manohar Parrikar Institute)
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