Minerals-for-peace or naked extractivism? Trump and resource imperialism in Ukraine

In this article, we identify new U.S. resource geopolitics under President Trump. Taking the example of the Ukraine ‘Minerals Deal’, we point at a form of ‘naked extractivism’ that does not seek to legitimize itself through forms of public justification other than transactional power relations. While sharing many of the other political, social, and environmental dimensions of extractivism, it justifies itself through blunt narratives of rightful exploitation and domination, rather than poverty alleviation or climate benefits, as for the cases of ‘neoextractivism’ and ‘green extractivism’, respectively. Based on an analysis of grey literature and executive power documents, this article addresses the various iterations of this ‘deal’ as they align with a transactional geopolitical strategy in which bullying and a blurry relationship to truth have become defining features. Cast in the long shadow of material tributary orders, resource imperialisms, and the exploitative logics of colonial ‘protectorates’, the Deal instruments both geological imaginaries and geopolitical leverage for the purpose of domestic political gains – in this case Trump's defense of “U.S. taxpayers” and fight back against Chinese dominance in the critical minerals sectors. We find that the tension between isolationism and a growing imperialism – at least in narrative – defines Trump's geopolitical standing. These opposing strategies nevertheless are inscribed in the President's America First policy and favor increasingly aggressive behavior towards allies. • The U.S. conditioned military aid to Ukraine to preferential access to the Ukrainian mineral and carbon resources for U.S. companies. • Naked extractivism justifies itself through blunt narratives of rightful exploitation, domination, and transactional power relations. • The transactional nature of Donald Trump's strategy combines post-truth politics with a disregard for long-lasting alliances • The ‘America First’ policy structures naked extractivism as a core strategy for critical mineral securitization • The Trump Presidency is establishing the conditions for a naked extractivism targeting allied nations globally, from Ukraine to Canada, Greenland to Venezuela, and the DR Congo.