https://youtu.be/VeLyH8MKozI?si=kz8DBCOLvd1mkZyp

A look at how this impacts China, their investments, intelligence, and reputation. Lots of things I had not considered.

Venezuela's Rare Earths May Now Be America's Path to China Independence

Quote:about Venezuelan oil, some of it stored, some in tramp tankers trying to evade the United States Navy (and failing), and some still in the ground. That black gold may play a major role in the resuscitation of Venezuela, but at least one industry expert is pointing out that Venezuela may have significant deposits of other valuable mineral resources, including rare earth elements.

Now that's interesting.

The deposition of Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro has sparked questions about the country’s future — and its vast natural resources. While many, including President Donald Trump, have focused on Venezuela’s oil as a potential benefit to the U.S., one expert says the country’s rare earth minerals may be getting overlooked.

There's just one problem: China already seems to have its foot in the door. That's not a big surprise, as Venezuela under Maduro was getting pretty cozy with Beijing.

"While everyone's talking about energy, which is very important, and everyone's talking about the human rights issue, regardless of what side you're on, there are some other major issues here, and rare earth are definitely one of them," Anthony Esposito, Founder and CEO of AscalonVI Capital, told FOX Business.

"If you look at the production, the mining production, 70% owned by China, reserves 50% within China, and 90% of the processing and refining is done by the Chinese. So, there's a massive bottleneck there for the rare earths," Esposito said. "The Chinese, along with the Iranians, but the Chinese in particular for the rare earths, have very successfully moved in to Venezuela and are starting to bottleneck the supply that's there."

If China is indeed already involved, they are doubtless stuck in as tight as a tick in a dog's ear, and it will be up to the new Venezuelan government to undo that; but the problem is, there isn't yet a really new Venezuelan government. The new "interim" president is a Maduro creature, his former vice president, Delcy Rodríguez, who hasn't been overly supportive of American involvement.

It's also unclear precisely what the extent of Venezuelan deposits is, although they are apparently enough to have China interested.

Independent verification of Venezuela’s rare earth reserves remains limited. Rare Earth Exchanges, a media platform covering the rare earth and critical minerals sector, reported in December 2025 that Venezuela’s reserves do not rival those of China, Australia or the U.S. and instead consist of "reported occurrences associated with the Guayana Shield — monazite-bearing sands, carbonatitic and granitic indications, and thorium-associated minerals."

We might also point out that China, Australia and the U.S. are substantially larger than Venezuela.

This presents an interesting challenge for the Trump administration. Is it worthwhile to attempt to horn in on the Chinese exploitation of Venezuelan mineral resources? Our own domestic resources are considerable; we just need to go get them, here in Alaska and elsewhere. Any pressure on a new Venezuelan government to defenestrate Chinese mining operations would put a shaky new regime in a very uncomfortable spot.

Link

My guess is the Chinese make rare earth elements mining rights a part of every belt and road initiative deal they can get signed by any third world nation looking for money and arms. Pretty sure thats exactly what they did in Africa.

Gee, I wonder if VZ will now nationalize its REM. :)

(01-09-2026 04:59 PM)TripleA Wrote:  Gee, I wonder if VZ will now nationalize its REM. :)

lol---woudnt that just be awful. My understanding is the Chinese are already upset because a bunch of their loans and arms deals were secured with oil revenue agreements.

The Venezuelan intervention, I believe, had a higher purpose than just bringing a dictator to justice or economic growth. China was also a target. They were deterred from meddling in our hemisphere witnessed a display of American might hopefully giving the Chinese pause about going to war with Taiwan, and raised the price of oil due to cutting down on the black market.

https://www.wsj.com/business/energy-oil/...low_a_pos1

It also points out that both China and Russia have no ability to project power much past their own borders. But it also gives them the opportunity to claim territory near them using the same basis America did. And it is also possible Russia can now seize American owned commercial ships using the same logics if they want to escalate the tension between them and the US. The world is changing at a quickening pace. The next couple of decades are going to determine who is the leader going forward.

(01-12-2026 12:26 PM)Was SoMs Eagle Wrote:  It also points out that both China and Russia have no ability to project power much past their own borders. But it also gives them the opportunity to claim territory near them using the same basis America did. And it is also possible Russia can now seize American owned commercial ships using the same logics if they want to escalate the tension between them and the US. The world is changing at a quickening pace. The next couple of decades are going to determine who is the leader going forward.

America doesn't send ships anywhere that Russia has the ability to seize them.

And China doesn't want to get into that sort of tit-for-tat. They import half their energy (oil/coal) and 1/3 of their calories. And it all gets there by really, really long trade routes that are super easy to intercept far away from Chinese airplanes

China would have food & electricity riots in a month if they decided to mess with America's boats.

(01-13-2026 06:08 PM)Captain Bearcat Wrote:  

(01-12-2026 12:26 PM)Was SoMs Eagle Wrote:  It also points out that both China and Russia have no ability to project power much past their own borders. But it also gives them the opportunity to claim territory near them using the same basis America did. And it is also possible Russia can now seize American owned commercial ships using the same logics if they want to escalate the tension between them and the US. The world is changing at a quickening pace. The next couple of decades are going to determine who is the leader going forward.

America doesn't send ships anywhere that Russia has the ability to seize them.

And China doesn't want to get into that sort of tit-for-tat. They import half their energy (oil/coal) and 1/3 of their calories. And it all gets there by really, really long trade routes that are super easy to intercept far away from Chinese airplanes

China would have food & electricity riots in a month if they decided to mess with America's boats.

Yup. Most American flagged ships are ships that spend almost all their time operating on US rivers or between USA ports (a condition caused by the Jones Act which requires ships operating from one US port to another US port to be American flagged). On the high seas, there are probably less than 100 American flagged vessels. There are a lot of American owned vessels on the high seas---but they are flagged in other nations for economic reasons.

(01-12-2026 12:26 PM)Was SoMs Eagle Wrote:  It also points out that both China and Russia have no ability to project power much past their own borders. But it also gives them the opportunity to claim territory near them using the same basis America did. And it is also possible Russia can now seize American owned commercial ships using the same logics if they want to escalate the tension between them and the US. The world is changing at a quickening pace. The next couple of decades are going to determine who is the leader going forward.

They have far more ability to project disorder into an organized system---than they have the ability to project control. Its like the Houthies. They have the ability to make a mess of shipping---but they cant really control the sea.