The Global Politics of Strategic Minerals
Strategic minerals — including lithium, cobalt, rare earth elements, and nickel — have become central to the global political economy. These resources are critical for slot gacor Naga169 high-tech industries, renewable energy, and defense technologies, making access and control a key geopolitical issue.
China dominates rare earth processing, while countries such as Australia, the U.S., and Canada invest in extraction and refinement capacity to reduce dependency. African and South American nations, rich in cobalt and lithium, navigate complex negotiations with foreign investors to protect sovereignty and economic benefits.
Supply chain security has become a major focus. Nations implement policies to diversify sources, stockpile critical minerals, and encourage domestic processing. Trade restrictions, export controls, and investment incentives reflect the strategic importance of these resources.
The competition over minerals also intersects with climate policy, technological innovation, and military strategy. Securing access is as much a matter of national security as it is of economic development.
“The politics of minerals will define technological and geopolitical dominance in the coming decades,” said global resource strategist Daniel Yergin.
As demand for high-tech and green energy grows, strategic minerals will remain at the heart of international policy, trade, and diplomacy.
