UN Secretary-General António Guterres said the illicit exploitation and control of natural resources are now leading drivers of armed conflicts worldwide [1, 2].
This shift in conflict dynamics suggests that wars are increasingly motivated by the pursuit of wealth through raw materials rather than purely political or ideological disputes. The mismanagement of these resources can prolong violence and complicate peace efforts by providing combatants with sustainable funding.
Speaking from the United Nations headquarters in New York on July 22, Guterres said that the control and extraction of these resources are altering the causes and outcomes of wars [1, 2]. He said that the illicit exploitation of these assets has become a primary factor in how armed conflicts are sustained and evolved [2].
According to the Secretary-General, the mismanagement of natural resources is not merely a byproduct of war but a central driver that shapes the dynamics of violence [1]. This pattern often leads to a cycle where the extraction of wealth funds the weapons used to maintain control over those resources [2].
Guterres said that this trend is affecting the global landscape of security. By altering the incentives for peace, the pursuit of illicit resource wealth can make diplomatic resolutions more difficult to achieve as factions prioritize financial gain over political stability [1, 2].
“The illicit exploitation and control of natural resources have become among the leading drivers of armed conflicts worldwide.”
The UN's focus on resource-driven conflict highlights a shift toward 'economic warfare' where the goal is the capture of supply chains and raw materials. This suggests that international peace strategies may need to pivot from traditional diplomatic mediation to stricter global regulations on the trade of conflict minerals and resources to remove the financial incentive for prolonged violence.
