Fenix Nickel Project: In recent years, the United States has found itself in a precarious position as its status as a global superpower has been called into question. Many experts believe that the US is becoming an insecure nation, desperately clinging to its former glory while other countries challenge it on the world stage.
Further, the Ukraine war has brought more challenges for the United States. It’s trying to hit two birds with one stone in South America. Will it be able to do that? Let’s figure it out.
The fight for strategic metals has become one of the most important battlegrounds in global politics. With China dominating the market for rare earth metals, which are essential for advanced weapon systems, smartphones and electric vehicles, the U.S. is playing catch-up, with 35 of the precious minerals and metals required for American production and manufacturing currently controlled by Beijing.
A memo obtained by Newsweek indicates that, with the support of the U.S. government, the Canadian corporation Central America Nickel (CAN) plans to acquire the Fenix Nickel Project, a nickel mine worth up to $1 billion, currently under sanctions for Russian influence peddling and ecological devastation.
Fenix Nickel Project, a vast complex situated in the South American nation of Guatemala, has become crucial for Russia as the Ukraine war has prolonged. Nickel is the metallic “Achilles heel” for any military and naval production, essential to producing armour plates for tanks, nickel alloys for anti-aircraft guns and ordnance, and even lightweight and tough portable bridges used in any battle.
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Today, many political pundits and policy analysts feel we are entering a new cold war, and strategic resources will be one of the key sources of conflict. Russia, on its part, is ahead of the U.S. in terms of access to such key strategic resources. Guatemala contains one of the largest sources of nickel, along with Norilsk mines for Russia. The U.S. is irked with Moscow’s easy abundance of the strategic mineral. The recent move should therefore be seen in this light.
The U.S. faces intense competition over rare earth metals and other strategic resources that will shape this century’s technological leaps, both in the commercial and military spheres.
The proposed acquisition of the Fenix project by CAN has not been without controversy, with Solway Investment Group denying any intention to sell its assets in Guatemala. However, it is clear that the U.S. is determined to gain a foothold in the nickel mining sector and cut off Russia’s access to this valuable resource. This move is part of a broader strategy to reduce American dependence on China for strategic metals and to ensure that the U.S. maintains its technological edge in the 21st century.
With the acquisition of the Fenix project, the U.S. is looking to gain a foothold in the race for strategic metals and cut off Russia’s access to this valuable resource. Russia has long been a dominant supplier of nickel to its military-industrial complex, which has been a cause of concern for the U.S. This move is not just about fighting Russian access to Nickel, but about gaining a strategic advantage in the race for valuable resources.
Also Read: The Swiss Blockade: Why Guatemala’s Nickel-Mining Operations Have Come to a Halt
In light of the escalating tensions between the US and Russia over Ukraine, this move to gain control over the nickel mining sector is just one small part of the larger geopolitical game being played out between these two superpowers. The US has been left scrambling to catch up with China in the race for strategic resources, and now it seems that they are turning their attention towards Russia.
With the recent military buildup in Ukraine, the US has been looking for ways to undermine Russian power and influence around the world. The proposed acquisition of the Fenix Nickel Project in Guatemala by the Canadian corporation, Central America Nickel (CAN), could be a significant blow to Russia’s strategic interests, as it threatens their supply of one of the most important metals for military and naval production.
The US has long been a dominant force in the world, but with the rise of China and the increasing assertiveness of Russia, its position is being challenged. The struggle for control over strategic resources is just one aspect of this larger geopolitical game, but it is an important one. As the world becomes increasingly interconnected and interdependent, the struggle for control over strategic resources will only intensify, and the winners of this struggle will shape the future of the world for decades to come.
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