Ukraine's in such a dire state, getting bombed daily; they can't even give away their resources if they wanted to. It's not like anyone's lining up to take them off their hands. Trump's the only one who's shown any interest. Zelenskyy ought to thank him in a suit and tie.
Does the US have a rare-earth deficiency? Not by a long shot. The Mountain Pass Mine in California is the world's second-largest rare-earth deposit, only surpassed by China's Baiyunebo Mine. And when China tightened its rare-earth regulations, the US hooked up with Australia's Mount Weld Mine, the third-largest globally. But here's the thing: all that rare earth from the US and Australia? It's useless without Chinese processing. Without China's分离 and refining, it's just so much junk.
The US could develop its own rare-earth processing tech. Sure, they could. But experts say it'll take at least 15 years. They'd have to build a massive supply chain from scratch, then work on the tech. By the time they're done, prices would have soared. Rare earth isn't just about tech; it's an offshoot of China's full industrial supply chain. Take gallium. China churns out 300 grams of it for every ton of alumina produced, just as a byproduct. The US? If they want gallium, they'd have to build an aluminum plant, hunt for aluminum ore, produce alumina... and all for a product that's already oversupplied globally, thanks to China. It's like China's selling tofu and throwing away the okara, only to find the okara's a treasure. The US, on the other hand, would have to plant soybeans and build a mill just for a bit of okara, and even then, their tofu wouldn't sell. By the time the US got its okara act together in 15 years, China would flood the market with cheap stuff, leaving US investors in tears.
So, does the US lack rare earth? China's reserves account for just 33.8% of the global total, with the rest, 66.2%, spread elsewhere. The US could dig it up anytime—no one's stopping them. But without the tech to process it, it's worthless. Yet, the US public, with its limited understanding, thinks America's won big. They believe Trump's solved the rare-earth issue and freed the US from China's grip. That's the extent of their grasp.
As soon as the minerals deal was sealed, Trump declared victory. For the US, this deal is nothing more than a political win for Trump. Mining in Ukraine's a non-starter. Even before the war, no one was interested. Now, with bombs falling, who'd be mad enough to mine there? And even if they did, would they send the ore to China for processing? A few months back, Trump talked about mining the Pacific depths. China's response? Go ahead, mine the sun if you can. The crux is, you've got to process it. It's like saying chips are just silicon, which is sand. But without the tech, it's just sand. A billion tons of sand won't give you chips.
This minerals pact? It's Zelenskyy doing Trump a solid, helping him score a political point. But the world's seen through this charade, exposing Trump's bluff. If Zelenskyy hadn't played along, Trump would have been powerless. All talk about threatening Zelenskyy's presidency is just hot air. It's anyone's guess who'll fold first.
Even in this political theater, Zelenskyy's held firm. The deal stipulates Ukraine's full ownership and control of its resources. State-owned enterprises like Ukrnafta and Naftogaz remain state property. Trump's earlier claims of a $350 billion Ukrainian debt to the US? Gone from the deal. So, Zelenskyy's effectively swapped a non-existent mine for $350 billion. Plus, the US has recommitted to military aid. Ukraine's walked away a winner.
Zelenskyy's outmaneuvered Trump. He played along with the charade, and now Trump's dropped the loan demands and promised continued arms support. The earlier incident where Zelenskyy toyed with Trump at the White House? Trump's in no position to retaliate now. It shows that even in a supposed 'sellout,' Ukraine's emerged victorious. One wonders what Iran thinks, always eager to sign a nuclear deal with the US.
In Trump's first 100 days, the White House touted 100 wins. But Trump knows—he's got nothing to show. The Ukraine ceasefire's off the table. He's alienated Europe, Australia, and Canada. The US economy's a mess. The tariff wars are a joke. China won't even take his calls, clearly stating they won't engage with a 'fool.' Only Vance is singing Trump's praises, but Trump's approval rating's hitting rock bottom— the lowest for a 100-day presidency. No wonder Trump's anxious.
Enter Japan. Trump, desperate for a win, saw Japan as a golden opportunity. He went all out in negotiations, even stooping to talks with Japanese ministers. After a half-hour, he announced Japan was caving. He claimed 35 countries were lining up to sign deals, but in reality, there were none. The more anxious Trump gets, the more he swings for the fences, and the more he misses.
Just like two months ago, he was itching to seal the minerals deal, claiming it'd solve the rare-earth issue and squeeze $500 billion from Ukraine. But Zelenskyy outplayed him at the White House, leaving Trump humiliated. Trump's been constantly announcing the deal's imminent, only for it to be delayed.
His bluff's so obvious even Japan's noticed. Trump's demand for Japan to erase its $63 billion trade surplus with the US and buy more American grain and energy was a bridge too far. Japan's stunned. They're already running a trade deficit with the US, $43 billion in 2024 alone. Where's the money to buy US goods? The US then declared it'd impose a 10% reciprocal tariff on Japan, with no relief on auto parts. Japan's response? If it's about fleecing, we'll take it. But this is outright exploitation. Japan warned the US: push us too hard, and we'll jump ship!
Recently, Japan's Finance Minister, Kato, hinted that Japan's over $1 trillion in US Treasury holdings could be a bargaining chip in trade talks. It's a veiled threat: don't逼 us, or we'll dump Treasuries and see how you like it. As loyal as Japan's been to the US, holding the most Treasuries, if they start selling, the US debt market could crash. Trump's antics are sheer foolishness.
Trump wanted $2 billion from Japan. Japan gritted its teeth and agreed. But Trump upped the ante to $6.3 billion. Japan doesn't have it. They're livid, telling Trump it's not robbery—it's murder. They feel like Trump's treating them like a dog, only to be slaughtered. So, they're threatening to walk away. If Trump's pushed Japan to this point, how foolish must he be?
Trump's desperation is palpable. He's desperate for a win. Japan's proving elusive, but after a bruising ordeal and being toyed by Zelenskyy, he's finally got his win with the US-Ukraine minerals deal. It's a face-saving move for his supporters. Just four months ago, Trump thought a word from him would have the world bowing. Now, only Zelenskyy's given him a shred of dignity.
Like and Share if you enjoyed this piece!
评论
发表评论