Venezuela, Greenland and Colombia all have large deposits of rare earths and other minerals needed by US technology and defence companies.
Washington’s abduction of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro last week has been characterised by many – including US President Donald Trump – as an attempt to gain control over the South American nation’s oil industry.
But analysts said the crisis was also about Washington’s need to secure access to critical minerals – and that other resource-rich nations should be on guard.
In addition to its vast oil reserves, Venezuela has significant deposits of an array of precious metals and other valuable resources, including rare earth elements that are vital inputs for the US technology and defence industries.
