I've been noticing an increasing common theme lately regarding international relations and protecting or asserting control over natural resources...
Russia's Putin - facing re-election in March announced that beefing up Russia's military will be necessary to protect its resources amongst other things. http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/story/2012/02/20/russia-arsenal-putin.html?cmp=rss
Australia concerned about resources too: http://zbbcnews.com/australias-navy-told-visible-resource-projectshtml
Argentinia and UK re-kindling the Falklands dispute over resources: http://zbbcnews.com/australias-navy-told-visible-resource-projectshtml
Japan/China/Taiwan dispute over Senkaku / Diaoyutai islands: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Senkaku_Islands_dispute
China's occupation of Tibet is widely believed to be about natural resources...
the list could go on and on: African nations, Artic Sovereignty, etc etc.