As Venezuela moves closer to approving a mining law that would open up rare earths and other minerals to foreign investment, the country’s rich deposits could find itself at the center of a battle of interests between the United States, China, Colombia, and armed groups in Venezuela and Brazil.
Since taking office last year, Donald Trump’s administration has blown up dozens of drug boats in the Pacific and Caribbean, launched a military operation inside Ecuador against drug traffickers, provided intelligence to the Mexican military to eliminate the leader of the Jalisco New Generation cartel, and arrested President Nicolas Maduro, accusing him of being the head of the Cartel de los Soles.
Analysts say Venezuelan mining outposts, many of which are controlled by armed groups including the National Liberation Army of Colombia (ELN), dissidents from the now-disbanded Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), Brazil’s Commando Vermelho (CV), Primero Commando da Capital (PCC) and Venezuelan crime syndicates, could be the next area in Latin America targeted by Trump.
Bram Ebus, consultant at the International Crisis Group and co-founder of Amazon Underworld, told Latin America Reports: “A scenario is emerging that could pursue the parallel goal of securing influence in resource-rich regions while targeting armed groups such as the National Liberation Army (ELN) under the anti-narcotics narrative, whether by further military action, whether by the Colombian military with military support from the United States or through the direct participation of special forces.”
Over the past decade, groups like ELN have been expanding their reach in Venezuela’s Amazon rainforest region and soliciting local miners for everything from gold, cassiterite (tin), ferrosite (tungsten) and coltan (niobium and tantalum) ores.
With demand for critical minerals increasing in the current geopolitical environment, Ebus noted that the United States may be targeting Venezuela’s critical mineral resources.
Last week, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum met with Interim President Delcy Rodriguez in Caracas to discuss rare earth minerals, with “more than 20 American companies joining us today, some of the largest, most powerful and best mining and minerals companies in the world.”
The proposed mining law would give the United States greater access to critical minerals.
“One possibility is for U.S. companies to get involved in mining, but since Washington wants to secure access to the supply chain, it is also possible for U.S. refiners to gain privileged access to minerals supplied by public companies,” Ebus said.
China’s presence in the region: Isn’t Trump watching?
As soon as Secretary Burgum returned to the United States, the administration approved a deal with Minerven, Venezuela’s state-owned gold mining company. nation It has been reported. The licenses also restricted access for companies doing business with U.S. rivals Iran, Russia and China.
While it is difficult to assess whether there are total Chinese buyers in the region, Ebus said, “We know that Chinese citizens are entering Venezuela through Puerto Carreño on the Colombian side of the border and that mines are reporting Chinese buyers on the ground.”
He also said, “Given past Chinese-Venezuela migration patterns, we believe some may have Venezuelan citizenship. Our shipping data also shows direct shipments from Colombia and Venezuela to Chinese companies.”
As President Trump moves to drive China out of the Western Hemisphere through the “Donor Doctrine,” Evers said the United States is likely to “come into direct conflict with Chinese interests,” and that in the Amazon region, “there is a concrete risk of direct or indirect U.S. military intervention or sanctions to secure access to rare earths.”
Unmapped resources in lawless areas indicate competition and violence.
Moreover, Ebus explained that competition for rare earths could expand reserves outside Venezuela to neighboring countries.
“This is a dynamic that extends beyond Venezuela to, for example, Ecuador and Brazil.” It contains unknown deposits of important and transitional minerals located on the border of the three countries.
He suggested that US operations would face challenges given the level of authority criminal groups have in the Amazon.
Historically, the ELN has used Venezuela as a safe haven for the Colombian military, and as Maduro’s government faces economic pressure, its illegal mining activities have been “tacitly approved by Caracas,” Ebus said.
This form of “criminal governance” has allowed the group to maintain its existence.
“Important mineral mines are now under the control of the ELN and are operating amidst extreme violence, including summary executions and strict social control of the local population,” Ebus added.
The Venezuelan military, other Colombian armed groups, including FARC dissidents, and Brazilian organized crime groups Comando Vermelho (CV) and Primeiro Comando da Capital (PCC) were also in attendance. This means that “increasing competition for mineral-rich territories is a distinct and growing prospect.”
This will further complicate America’s problems.
Featured Image: A fragment of mine soil rich in important minerals.
Image credit: Bram Ebus, Co-Director, Amazon Underworld
