New reports suggest oil was not the only strategic objective behind U.S. President Donald Trump’s dramatic operation in Venezuela. According to a report, Washington was also eyeing Venezuela’s vast reserves of critical minerals, including gold, rare earth elements, iron ore, and bauxite. With China deeply entrenched in Venezuela’s oil and mining sectors, the operation is being seen as part of a wider U.S. push to curb Beijing’s influence over strategic resources. Experts say Venezuela’s mineral-rich Guayana Shield and Orinoco Mining Arc make the country central to the global race for rare earths and critical raw materials, especially as U.S.-China tensions over supply chains continue to escalate.
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