Is there something there the U.S. can sell to it’s enemies?
Bill Clinton closed high quality, clean , low sulfur coal mining nearby so that his pals , the Riady family, got a windfall from their holdings in Asia. In trade for cash to the Clinton Foundation. Killed good paying, rural, local jobs in Utah.
Similar here. Some mining. Farmers and communities also need water to survive. Like Tombstone, Az. ; cut off the water, then they die.
Plus other issues.