Why is Cuba macro economic for the US?

Prior to a couple months ago, Cuba was old cars, cigars n a failing communist state. N maybe some sugar n world class medicine.

Our current regime went after Cuba in a big way a month ago, n I wondered “why?”… “What’s in it for US?”.

It turns out that Cuba has significant reserves of Ni n Co n Zeolites n Silica.

Perplexity: ("Cuba’s most important mineral deposits are nickel and cobalt, followed by zinc, copper, iron, chromium, gold, manganese, tungsten, and a wide range of industrial minerals such as limestone, clays, kaolin, gypsum, salt, silica sand, and zeolites. The strongest globally significant deposits are the lateritic nickel-cobalt ores in eastern Cuba, especially around Moa in Holguín province. ")

Ni n Co are critical for semiconductors n advanced chips n sensors n such.

China has been steadily debt trapping under developed countries and demanding their natural resources as payment. Cuba is one such victim.

Now, under the Monroe Doctrine, those Cuban natural resources are threatened with being made available to the US, benefitting US tech industry and the US macro economy.

:wink:
ralph

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I think we know Mr Trump has a list of items he would like to resolve during his presidency. Cuba is apparently on that list. We shall see how he does at it.

Nickel and cobalt are often ingredients in some lithium batteries. Nickel is usually an ingredient in stainless steel. But Canada is a major player.

Cuba is a sugar cane economy. Tourism is their best opportunity. Investment required. If investors are confident their investments will pay off that might make a big difference. But private property confiscated by Cuban government is a major issue w many refugees living in the U.S. Will not be easy to resolve.

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I’m quite sure that Cuban cigars will have the biggest macro economic impact for the U.S. At least for my budget, which I think is reasonable to extrapolate across all Americans.

N just for the record, I think it’s spelled “and.” :grin:

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The list keeps growing with all of the problems he’s creating…but I digress.

I agree, assuming “their” refers to the kleptocrats who run our country. Imagine all of the hotels and golf courses they could build! Lots of opportunities to make some cheddar. Somehow I doubt they’re interested in nickel and cobalt.

It will be auctioned off to the highest bidder. Problem solved.

The Cuban people are once again the victims of a Banquete de tiranos.

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In the '30s Cuba was a popular tourist destination. They still have excellent weather, sandy beaches, and easy transportation from the U.S.

Sugar will not make them prosperous. Tourism might. Like it or not economics is about bringing commerce to the island.

I doubt that those seeking reparation for their confiscated property will be satisfied with auctioning it off. Solution must be negotiated.

Investors will not risk their funds if they fear govt will nationalize their assets. Convincing reforms are required.

Cuba may not like these changes but what is the alternative? Will Russia bail them out?

There are lots of alternatives. I guess it depends on the problem we’re trying to solve.

If we’re trying to fix the humanitarian crisis - Lift the embargo, allow trade to flow.

If we’re trying to compensate US citizens and corporations who had their property nationalized - The US currently holds $6 billion in Cuban assets in the US Treasury…pay them!

If we’re trying to force regime change through collective punishment, we’ll create more problems than we’ll solve.

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WRT “our” Cuba goals, I choose door CCP-Xi.

VZ was #1 stopping the flow of cheap shadow tanker oil/energy to China.
#1 stopping China access to other VZ resources.
#1 stopping Chinese spy n military operations in VZ.

Iran is #1 stopping flow of cheap, shadow tanker oil/energy to China.
#1 stopping BRI corridor through Iran, Turkey to Eastern Europe, that bypasses US Navy controlled paths.
#1 stopping China spy, military operations in that region.
#1 stopping exchange of technologies, goods n services (n yuan, BTC, etc) between Iran n China.
#1 interrupting Chinese port development in Pakistan n Iran.

#3 interrupt flow of technology between Iran n Russia.
#2 support Israeli goal of removing IRCG as “government of Iran”.

Panama canal is #1 about stopping shadow fleet oil/energy to China,
#1 stopping Chinese spy n military operations at this important choke point.

IF you trust the anti China biased echo chambers I poke my ears into, the US actions in these countries have had significant effects on the Chinese economy: unemployment, manufacturing, plastics, drugs, shipping, etc.

Brazil, Peru, Honduras have also “shifted” away from China…?..?

China has been locking down access to resources necessary to modern technologies, especially metals, refining them in China, stockpiling and weaponizing access to those resources.

Cuba has the 5th highest Ni reserves - global. In addition to significant Co.
Perplexity says the Cuban Ni refines easily to very high quality metal. Those resources are no longer guaranteed to go to China.

So, I think Cuba is also about #1 removing China access to these resources
#1 removing Chinese spy locations from the Caribbean,
#1 removing Chinese military operations from Cuba (90miles from US),
#1 removing a Communist “flying monkey” (NPD reference) support. This affects both China n Russia.

Ie .. it’s all about CCP-Xi.
Loosening China’s grip on these, regions, countries, and resources has direct implications for US n Western macro economies.

Cuban tourism n sugar cane are, IMO, red herrings.

But, this is just my opinion.
:small_airplane::monkey:
ralph

NPD = Narcissistic Personality Disorder.

Iran is NOT about the Iranian people, it’s about IRCG.

China is NOT about Chinese people, it’s about CCP-Xi.

Cuba is NOT about Cuban people, it’s about the communist government.

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Let’s hope it works. So far…so bad.

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