Recently, a shocking drama has unfolded in the global financial markets. The United States has rapidly issued multiple strong signals within just a few days, triggering a rush in the market for safe-haven assets. This series of events has directly driven up the prices of precious metals such as gold.

First, on January 3rd, the US suddenly took swift military action against Venezuela, completing the entire operation in just 3 hours. The subsequent statement explicitly stated that the US would maintain long-term control over the country's oil reserves, and related oil and gas resources would be taken over by American companies. This move broke the silence of the international community, with the Western camp collectively silent.

But the story did not end there. Just 48 hours later, on January 5th, a new wave of shock arrived. The US again publicly expressed clear intentions to control Greenland. This statement was not made casually; the vice president’s wife immediately posted a map of Greenland marked with the American flag on social media, accompanied by a concise and powerful caption: "Coming soon."

Denmark responded immediately with a tough stance. The US ambassador publicly expressed hope that Denmark’s territorial integrity would be respected, and the Prime Minister issued a statement firmly opposing any discussions of annexing Greenland, calling such ideas "meaningless." However, these diplomatic statements seemed to have no real impact on the US’s determination.

Why is the US so persistent in these regions? The answer is quite simple: resources and interests.

Venezuela possesses the largest proven oil reserves in the world and is one of the founding members of OPEC. Controlling its oil industry means holding a key card in the global energy landscape.

The value of Greenland is even more complex and diverse. First is its geographical location. As the world’s largest island, Greenland sits on the shortest route between North America and Europe. There is already a US military base there, serving as an important frontier in North America’s air defense and missile defense system. As the Arctic climate warms and navigation conditions improve, the commercial potential of the Arctic route is rapidly being unlocked, significantly shortening transportation distances from Asia to Europe and America.

Second are energy and mineral resources. Greenland is rich in oil, natural gas, copper, nickel, and other minerals. Particularly, its rare earth element reserves are quite substantial, which is crucial for the US, currently pushing for a manufacturing revival. After multiple rounds of trade conflicts by 2025, the US has deeply experienced the threat of being dependent on rare earths. Owning Greenland means gaining strategic influence over these resources.

This is not the US’s first interest in Greenland. In 1867, it attempted to purchase the island; in 1946, Truman’s government even offered a staggering $100 million, all of which was firmly rejected by Denmark. Now, Trump has revisited the issue, and both Greenland and Denmark’s responses remain: "This is not a commodity." Denmark even upgraded its national flag, investing 1.5 billion USD to strengthen Arctic military deployments, with European allies also expressing support for Denmark.

But when soft power fails, hard power may become an option. The rapid development of the Venezuela incident indicates that many previously considered "bluster" and "jokes" may indeed be gradually turning into reality. Besides these two regions, the US has also threatened to seize the Panama Canal by force, considered acquiring Canadian territory, and even contemplated renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the American Gulf.

The turbulence of geopolitics has directly ignited risk aversion in the financial markets. Gold and silver have become the preferred assets for capital fleeing risk. Data shows that on January 5th, spot silver surged by as much as 4% intraday, reaching $75.72 per ounce. Spot gold also broke through the $4,400 mark again, with an intraday increase of 1.6%.

This market reaction reflects a deeper reality: in an era of highly fluid information, the sensitivity of global financial markets to geopolitical risks is increasing daily. Every change in international relations quickly propagates to commodity markets, exchange rates, and even the cryptocurrency market. For traders, understanding the political and economic logic behind these macro backgrounds is essential to better grasp market opportunities. When the world situation faces profound adjustments, allocating assets for risk aversion becomes an inevitable choice for many investors.