Resource dependencies always existed because some things are found in some places and other things are found in other places. The United States, for example, had to source its Titanium from the USSR because the ore that had the highest concentrations and which was practical to mine at that time could only be found in the USSR or China.

Likewise, before the invention of the Haber-Bosch process, Germany did not have large-scale access to nitrates, which are key to both agriculture and production of munitions.

Japan is scarce with natural resources which are key to industrialization, so they have always been dependent on imports to acquire them. Addressing this dependence was a key motivation for their imperial expansion. Their ultimate defeat was a lesson that they'll just have to rely on trade for key resources, and they have prospered by accepting that since then, as long as the US shields them.

It's sure nice to be self-sufficient, and the US is in a better position for this than most countries, but nations have gone to war over exactly these concerns - not so much the inability to acquire key materials in trade, but the fear of being denied access. "I must conquer you because you might hurt me."

Incidentally, this ("I must conquer you because you might hurt me") is the entire logic of US interventionism abroad, to the extent it's not straight-out profiteering.

Resource dependencies always existed because some things are found in some places and other things are found in other places. The United States, for example, had to source its Titanium from the USSR because the ore that had the highest concentrations and which was practical to mine at that time could only be found in the USSR or China.

Likewise, before the invention of the Haber-Bosch process, Germany did not have large-scale access to nitrates, which are key to both agriculture and production of munitions.

Japan is scarce with natural resources which are key to industrialization, so they have always been dependent on imports to acquire them. Addressing this dependence was a key motivation for their imperial expansion. Their ultimate defeat was a lesson that they'll just have to rely on trade for key resources, and they have prospered by accepting that since then.

It's sure nice to be self-sufficient, and the US is in a better position for this than most countries, but nations have gone to war over exactly these concerns - not so much the inability to acquire key materials in trade, but the fear of being denied access. "I must conquer you because you might hurt me."

Incidentally, this ("I must conquer you because you might hurt me") is the entire logic of US interventionism abroad, to the extent it's not straight-out profiteering.

Resource dependencies always existed because some things are found in some places and other things are found in other places. The United States, for example, had to source its Titanium from the USSR because the ore that had the highest concentrations and which was practical to mine at that time could only be found in the USSR or China.

Likewise, before the invention of the Haber-Bosch process, Germany did not have large-scale access to nitrates.

Japan is scarce with natural resources which are key to industrialization, so they have always been dependent on imports to acquire them. Addressing this dependence was a key motivation for their imperial expansion. Their ultimate defeat was a lesson that they'll just have to rely on trade for key resources, and they have prospered by accepting that since then.

It's sure nice to be self-sufficient, and the US is in a better position for this than most countries, but nations have gone to war over exactly these concerns - not so much the inability to acquire key materials in trade, but the fear of being denied access. "I must conquer you because you might hurt me."

Incidentally, this ("I must conquer you because you might hurt me") is the entire logic of US interventionism abroad, to the extent it's not straight-out profiteering.

Resource dependencies always existed because some things are found in some places and other things are found in other places. The United States, for example, had to source its Titanium from the USSR because the ore that had the highest concentrations and which was practical to mine at that time could only be found in the USSR or China.

Likewise, before the invention of the Haber-Bosch process, Germany did not have large-scale access to nitrates.

Japan is scarce with natural resources which are key to industrialization, so they have always been dependent on imports to acquire them. Addressing this dependence was a key motivation for their imperial expansion. Their ultimate defeat was a lesson that they'll just have to rely on trade for key resources, and they have prospered by accepting that since then.

It's sure nice to be self-sufficient, and the US is in a better position for this than most countries, but nations have gone to war over exactly these concerns - not so much the inability to acquire key materials in trade, but the fear of being denied access. "I must conquer you because you might hurt me."

Incidentally, this ("I must conquer you because you might hurt me") is the entire logic of US interventionism abroad.