Oil-Driven Imperialism: A Timeless Motivation for Wars and Colonialism

History is often rewritten to justify wars and colonialism as virtuous endeavors. However, the true motivations behind such actions are often driven by greed for resources like gold, silver, land, and oil.

The conquest of the Americas was not primarily about spreading Christianity, but rather about extracting wealth from indigenous peoples. Similarly, the Crusades were a mix of religious and imperial ambition. The Fourth Crusade, in particular, targeted the Christian stronghold of Constantinople.

In modern times, the promotion of democracy has been used as a pretext for aggression, particularly by the United States. However, economic interests, especially oil, have played a significant role in shaping US foreign policy. President Jimmy Carter's 1980 State of the Union address highlighted the importance of Middle Eastern oil supplies to Western democracies.

The invasion of Iraq is often cited as an example of this phenomenon. Alan Greenspan, former chairman of the Federal Reserve, wrote that the war was 'largely about oil.' Similarly, President Trump's statements on Venezuela have been driven by a desire for control over its oil reserves. In 2026, he stated that US troops would maintain a presence in Venezuela to extract wealth from its oil fields.