Follow the minerals: Why the US is threatened by Venezuela's 'blue gold' [View all]

[Judi Lynn]

Follow the minerals: Why the US is threatened by Venezuela's 'blue gold'
Carrie Giunta 06 May 2015. Posted in News

Could the precious mineral coltan have anything to do with Obama's claim that Venezuela is an “unusual and extraordinary threat” to US security?


US PRESIDENT Obama generated international outcry after imposing further sanctions on Venezuela in March and claiming that Venezuela poses an “unusual and extraordinary threat” to US security. President Maduro of Venezuela fired back at Obama, saying the sanctions and executive order are an attempt to use force to control the country.

One forthright response to the US decree from Bolivian President Evo Morales demanded Obama to: “Stop turning the world into a battlefield.”

Is any threat posed by Venezuela merely an illusion created to oil the wheels of intervention?

What is real and tangible is the US’ increasing demand for the natural resources Venezuela has in superabundance.

Resource wealth can be a blessing and a curse. Not only is Venezuela the fifth largest oil exporting country in the world, with the second-largest reserves of heavy crude oil, but also add to that the country’s rich mineral reserves, plus a turbulent economy, and you have a recipe for ‘resource curse’.

More:
http://stopwar.org.uk/news/follow-the-minerals-why-the-us-is-threatened-by-venezuela-s-blue-gold