Entry into WWII (for the United States) was about oil, too. The Japanese attacked the USA because we embargoed oil to Japan as it was trying to consolidate its colonization of China. The Dutch were doing the same from their colonies in what is now Indonesia.

Germany's thrust to Stalingrad was about oil, too.

Life needs energy (including food) water, resources, and habitat. All life, from bacteria to humans, will fight for whichever of those is limiting its growth. In the case of humans, we justify it later through historical rationalization. Winners write history.