The New World Order Is a Mineral Heist—and the Elite Don’t Care About You

I’ve seen this game before. Growing up as a Cold War victim—born in Angola and uprooted as my family faced the relentless tide of ideological warfare—I witnessed superpowers clashing not for lofty ideals but for the raw resources they could seize. I remember the long, uncertain nights when the world’s great powers redefined borders and fates, treating lives like expendable pawns in a brutal chess match over oil, steel, and influence. My family lost everything when the Iron Curtain fell, our hopes and histories sacrificed on the altar of global ambition.

As a child, I absorbed the harsh realities of displacement and the quiet despair of seeing my homeland torn apart by forces far beyond our control. These early experiences—etched in the sorrow of lost homes and the resilience of those forced to rebuild—haunted me as I later navigated a new life in the United States. Even as I embraced my new identity here, my engineering background and lifelong passion for truth kept me vigilant; I knew that beneath every grand political narrative lay the grim arithmetic of resource exploitation.

Now, as I survey Ukraine’s staggering $12-15 trillion in rare earth elements, lithium, and titanium, I see that same predatory playbook reemerging with an unsettling familiarity. This isn’t a battle for democracy or territory—it’s a meticulously orchestrated heist, echoing the ruthless strategies of the past. Russia’s oligarchs, Trump’s inner circle, and China’s Party elite are orchestrating a silent coup, meticulously carving up a nation’s wealth while ordinary lives are left in ruin. Trust me, I know all too well how the powerful care nothing for the common people—only for the treasures hidden beneath the surface.

The Prize: Minerals That Run the Future

I still remember the '70ies, when the world was fed lies of freedom and democracy, all while the real game was being played over raw materials. Back then, the endless coal mines and oil fields were the tokens of power—now the battleground has shifted to the critical minerals that fuel our modern age. Today, our future rides on rare earths: neodymium, the unsung hero powering electric vehicle magnets; dysprosium, the secret ingredient ensuring missile guidance; lithium and graphite, the lifeblood behind the batteries that drive our digital and green revolutions; and titanium, which doesn’t just build fighter jets but fortifies the very spirit of technological supremacy.

In my eyes—honed both by the scars of a Cold War survivor and by my work as an electronics engineer—these aren’t merely elements extracted from the earth; they are the arteries of a new era. Ukraine, a country whose mineral wealth was once hidden behind outdated Soviet maps, now stands at the crossroads of destiny. With estimates pointing to roughly 500,000 tons of lithium reserves, vast deposits of rare earth elements, and significant titanium deposits in regions like Krivoy Rog, Ukraine holds a treasure trove that overshadows the coal mines of my youth.

Yet, the cruel calculus of global resource control is evident. Since 2014, Russia’s aggressive grip on strategic regions such as the Donbas and Crimea has allowed it to absorb between 40% to 70% of these critical resources. Even as global capital eyes these deposits with the promise of trillions in future revenue, the irony is bitter—nations that once fought wars in the name of freedom are now caught in a high-stakes heist over the very substances that will power tomorrow’s technology and warfare.

I’ve survived one resource war, and each new revelation stokes the embers of past betrayals. Today, the battle isn’t over ideologies or borders—it’s over the raw, unyielding value of the earth’s most precious elements. And as I survey the horizon, I can already taste the bitter tang of another resource war on the brink, one where the future is literally mined from the ground.

Russia’s Play: Take and Hold

It is clear that Russia’s current strategy is nothing short of a modern echo of its imperial past—a ruthless, calculated grab that turns sovereign lands into profit centers for those in power. As a child in the '70ies, I witnessed the Soviet juggernaut swallow entire regions, leaving nothing but scars and silence in its wake. Today, under Putin’s command, that same logic is in full display. Since 2014, not only was Crimea annexed, but Russia has methodically expanded its influence deep into eastern Ukraine. With each seized town and every captured deposit, Moscow is not merely redrawing maps—it’s consolidating control over invaluable resources, from graphite and titanium to more elusive rare earth elements.

But the play is far from a simple military conquest. Behind the official rhetoric of “denazification” lies a far more pragmatic agenda: resource appropriation. Russian oligarchs, like Deripaska, have repurposed the spoils of war as a personal treasure trove, diverting millions into Swiss bank accounts and offshore havens rather than reinvesting in the rebuilding of communities like Luhansk. The impact is staggering: where Ukraine once contributed around 5% of global titanium output, much of that production is now funneled through Moscow’s shadowy channels.

Moscow’s tactics are disturbingly reminiscent of the old Soviet playbook—using covert deals and complex financial instruments to sidestep sanctions and mask the true extent of its economic pillage. Rather than restore or rebuild, the focus remains squarely on extraction and control. These actions not only undermine Ukraine’s future but also set a dangerous precedent in international relations, where power is measured by the ability to commandeer natural wealth without accountability.

For those of us who have lived through the bitter consequences of such imperial ambitions, Russia’s relentless drive to hold and exploit resources is a stark reminder that when governance is sacrificed at the altar of greed, entire generations are left to pick up the pieces.

Trump’s Angle: Deal or Steal—and Beyond

Then there’s Trump—a man whose every word seems calculated to reshape the world order by turning crises into profit. In February 2025, he boasted about a “$500 billion deal” with Ukraine—a proposal that stinks of resource exploitation rather than genuine humanitarian aid. For Trump, the art of the deal isn’t confined to boardrooms; it spills over onto the global stage. His expansionist rhetoric isn’t limited to Ukraine’s mineral riches—it extends boldly to Greenland and even Canada.

Under Greenland’s icy surface lies an untapped trove of valuable assets: vast deposits of rare earth elements like neodymium and dysprosium, substantial lithium reserves essential for batteries and green technology, and significant quantities of titanium and uranium. These resources could power tomorrow’s technology and military might, while simultaneously denying critical inputs to rivals like China, which currently dominates rare-earth processing. Trump sees control over such resources as a linchpin for American economic security and strategic leverage in the Arctic.

As for Canada, Trump’s provocative jabs about annexing the “Great State of Canada” appear to be more of a trolling tactic—a way to leverage economic threats, like imposing 25% tariffs, into a negotiating chip. Annexing a nation with over 40 million people and robust democratic institutions is politically unfeasible, but the rhetoric is designed to unsettle both allies and adversaries. His repeated references to turning Canada into the 51st state underscore his aggressive vision to expand U.S. territory and influence, even if such ambitions are, by all practical measures, pure hyperbole.

In Trump’s view, every piece of territory—from Greenland’s resource-laden ice to Canada’s natural wealth and the strategically critical Panama Canal—is a bargaining chip in a high-stakes game of global realignment. By using seemingly outrageous demands and threats, he aims to force the hand of both partners and opponents. Whether it’s coercing lower tariffs or leveraging military might to reassert U.S. control, Trump’s “Deal or Steal” approach is about maximizing American advantage—economically and strategically—even if it means courting controversy and defying decades of established diplomacy.

China’s Shadow: The Real Kingpin

China casts a long, dark shadow over this entire saga, and it’s a presence that fills me with both awe and trepidation. Today, China controls roughly 60% of the world’s rare earth element production—about 120,000 tons as of 2023—and wields an iron grip on global graphite supplies. In the era of the Cold War, the U.S. and USSR battled openly for supremacy, but since then, China has quietly risen to command the board—not through bluster or overt military displays, but through calculated economic strategies and long-term investments in resource extraction and processing.

Consider the Bayan Obo mine in Inner Mongolia, often dubbed the “mineral kingdom” of China. It is not merely a mine but a colossal fortress of extraction that supplies a major portion of the world’s REEs. Similarly, the lithium-rich salts of Qinghai, once as coveted as oil, now play a critical role in powering the green revolution. These resources are the building blocks of everything from electric vehicles to sophisticated military hardware.

While Russia and even Trump’s administration squabble over Ukraine’s remaining mineral deposits, Beijing is operating on a different plane—consolidating power through robust supply chains, advanced processing facilities, and strategic investments that stretch across decades. Chinese state-owned enterprises and private conglomerates have meticulously built a near-monopoly over rare earth processing capacity, ensuring that even if other countries develop their own deposits, the majority of the value-added production remains in China.

I still recall the chaos of the ‘70ies and ‘80s—when my family and countless others fled turmoil, and while the world fixated on flashy military might, a distant elite was quietly amassing wealth and technological power. If Ukraine is the chessboard, then China is the grandmaster, patiently orchestrating every move. Their strategy isn’t about overt conquest—it’s about stealth and persistence, securing the supply lines and processing capabilities that will dictate the future of global technology and warfare.

History tells me that when the dust finally settles, it will be the silent, cunning players like China who profit the most. Their victory seems almost inevitable, as they continue to outmaneuver competitors by investing in research, infrastructure, and long-term partnerships worldwide. In this high-stakes game, China’s expansive reach and unyielding focus on resource control have emerged as the true kingpin behind the global shift toward a new, mineral-driven order.

The Elite Don’t Care

What has all of this taught me? One undeniable truth: the elite have never cared about the common person. My own family became collateral damage—displaced, impoverished, and all but forgotten—while the titans in Washington and Moscow celebrated their latest victories. Today, Ukrainian civilians huddle in bombed-out homes, dodging relentless shelling, while Putin’s cronies hoard graphite and other valuable resources as if they were mere trinkets. At the same time, Trump’s advisors race to secure lucrative mineral deals, and Xi Jinping tallies billions with an air of detached efficiency. The familiar refrain of “for the people” is nothing more than a convenient myth—an empty slogan engineered by dynasties intent on preserving and growing their own fortunes.

I’ve witnessed firsthand how, over decades, the Rockefellers and other titans of industry crushed their competitors over oil, treating entire communities as expendable collateral in a ruthless game of profit and power. Today, the stakes have shifted; wars are fought not solely over ideology or borders, but over the subterranean riches of lithium, rare earth elements, and other minerals that will shape the future of technology and warfare. The masses are fed endless speeches and hollow promises, while the elite quietly consolidate control and line their pockets with the spoils of resource extraction.

History is repeating itself—only now, beneath the veneer of geopolitical conflict lies an underground game of resource control. In this ruthless arena, the elites care only for the bottom line, and the everyday person remains a pawn in their grand strategy. This bitter truth, honed by my own experiences, reminds me that the powerful have always been indifferent to the suffering they leave in their wake.

Who Wins?

So, who truly stands to win this high-stakes heist? Russia may currently hold much of the territory, but its economy limps under the crushing weight of international sanctions—a fate that eerily echoes the Soviet collapse I once witnessed as a child. Despite its aggressive posturing, Russia's long-term prospects remain grim, as its resource grab only deepens internal economic woes and leaves its people to bear the cost.

Then there’s Trump. With all his bluster and showmanship, he’s more interested in flashy deals and headline-grabbing maneuvers than in the messy, unglamorous realities of modern warfare. His pursuit of short-term gains through opportunistic resource deals is reminiscent of a bygone era of Cold War profiteering—an era in which the loudest players often fell prey to the very forces they sought to control.

And then there’s China—my bet for the long game. With its vast, resilient supply chains, meticulous strategic planning, and a proven track record of silent conquests, Beijing is poised to emerge as the uncontested king of this new order. While Russia and Trump may capture headlines today, history teaches us that the quiet, methodical strategists usually secure the future. China’s approach is built on deep-rooted investments in technology, infrastructure, and resource processing, ensuring that as the global landscape shifts, it will be the one reaping the ultimate rewards.

Unless geopolitical winds shift dramatically—whether by a sudden pivot in Trump’s unpredictable policies or by a further entrenchment of Russia’s isolation—the Chinese elite are likely to reign supreme in the long run. As for me, I remain a Cold War ghost, forever watching from the sidelines as history rhymes and repeats itself. The true winners, it seems, are not those who shout the loudest, but those who quietly shape the world from behind the scenes.

What’s your call on this grand heist?

Who do you believe will emerge as the ultimate winner in this relentless scramble for minerals?

In my view, the final victory belongs to China. While Russia and Trump's bold maneuvers capture fleeting headlines, it is China's meticulous approach and strategic vision—based on long-term investments, resilient supply chains, and growing dominance in processing critical minerals—that place it in an irrefutable position to shape the global future. Thus, in my final analysis, the true winners will be those who, like China, operate quietly behind the scenes, consolidating power and control, regardless of the visible tumult of current geopolitics.