You don’t know that, and Project 2025 states that foreign affairs must be subject to national interests. The GOP is prioritizing access to strategic minerals as a long term goal. DT has stated the annex desire repeatedly and consistently.
At the least, the economic assault is not a distraction, and it is obviously the initial stage in an escalation. People are already affected, and pissed.
Yep, occupied territory doesn’t have much opportunity for holding defectors, because it can be hard to prevent infiltration. Behind front lines is different though.