Rare Earths: Geopolitics, Chokepoints, and Supply Chain Resilience

The provided text examines the critical global reliance on Rare Earth Elements (REEs), indispensable for modern technology, green energy, and defense, highlighting China's near-monopoly over their processing. It details the geopolitical implications of this dominance, including China's strategic use of REEs as leverage. The sources then explore international efforts, particularly from the U.S., Australia, and Canada, to diversify supply chains through "ally-shoring" and rebuilding domestic capabilities. Furthermore, the text addresses the significant environmental and social costs associated with REE extraction, emphasizing the paradox of "green" technologies relying on "dirty" mining practices. Finally, it outlines future strategies for resilience, focusing on advancements in REE recycling and the development of substitute materials, particularly for permanent magnets.

Research done with the help of artificial intelligence, and presented by two AI-generated hosts.