Important minerals do not seem to be part of Washington's diplomatic strategy, but in fact, they are pillars in defense and technology.
China currently controls the global mineral supply chain, from exploitation to processing, and has used this advantage as an economic weapon.
Beijing is currently refining 40-90% of the world's rare earths, coal, lithium, cobalt and copper. Over the past two years, China has imposed an export ban on some raw materials, raising concerns about US economic security and defense.
A report from the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) warned that dependence on China is becoming a major risk for the US.
Recognizing this, since 2017, Mr. Trump has signed a series of decrees to reduce dependence on imported minerals. However, the US supply chain has yet to catch up with China's control speed.
The Biden administration continues to expand cooperation with mineral-rich countries to find alternatives, including funding for mining projects in Africa and Greenland.
In his first month returning to the White House during his second term, Mr. Trump surprised analysts and diplomats with drastic moves: proposing to annex Canada to the US, intending to village Greenland, controlling the Panama Canal and capturing Ukraine's mineral resources.
According to Foreign Policy, all of the above moves show a unified goal of Mr. Trump to ensure essential mineral supply for the US, in the context of China dominating the supply chain of important minerals, especially rare earths.
Canada is the center of exploitation, Greenland has rich reserves of rare earths, Ukraine does not have commercial rare earth mines but still actively promotes potential.
Ms. Gracelin Baskaran - mineral security expert at CSIS - commented: " Canada, Greenland and Ukraine are all rich in resources. Panama Canal is essential for the flow of resources".
The proposal to annex Greenland was once considered a joke, but now Republican lawmakers are reviewing the "Make Greenland Great again" Act.
For Canada, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau suspected that Mr Trump's statements about the merger could stem from a desire to control the country's mineral advantage.
Meanwhile, Ukraine, despite no rare earth mines in operation, is still looking to get involved in the game. President Trump sent the Treasury Secretary to Kiev this month to negotiate with the Ukrainian leadership, then publicly increased the pressure. I want to ensure a supply of rare earths, Trump said.
After many weeks of intense negotiations, the US and Ukraine have reached an agreement on a framework for sharing strategic mineral revenue. These resources include essential raw materials for energy and defense technology, such as electric vehicle batteries and missile systems.
The US currently depends on imports of 50-100% of important minerals, of which China is the leading producer of 29 types.
Under President Biden, the US has formed an alliance with mineral-rich countries to reduce dependence on China. Ukraine, Greenland and Canada are all part of the strategy. However, Mr. Trump has chosen another approach: direct negotiations and strong pressure.
In September last year, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky proposed a "victory" plan for its allies, including Trump, to attract investment in Ukraine's mineral industry. However, Ukrainian officials have since delayed signing the deal with the Biden administration pending Trump's election.
