US 'Secures' Rare Earths, Ignores Resource Curse History
The Financial Times breathlessly reports the US is backing a Brazilian rare earths mine to 'loosen China’s grip,' positioning it as a win for strategic supply chains. What they conveniently forget to mention is the long, bloody history of Western powers 'securing' resources in the Global South. This isn't about fair competition; it's about reasserting control. From colonial era rubber plantations
to modern-day cobalt mines, the script remains eerily similar: resources flow out, profits concentrate elsewhere, and local populations are left with ecological devastation and occasional crumbs. One might wonder when securing 'critical minerals' ever led to critical development for the nations providing them. The US, with its track record of supporting coups and destabilizing governments to
protect corporate interests—think United Fruit in Guatemala or Anaconda Copper in Chile—now champions 'sustainable development' in Brazil. Are we to believe this latest resource rush will magically uplift Brazilians, or will it simply ensure cheaper tech gadgets and renewed geopolitical leverage for Washington?