As Washington and its allies race to secure critical minerals, diversify energy supplies, and rebuild defense-industrial capacity, an unexpected policy gap is emerging inside the Western alliance.
The United States is investing heavily in new supply chains for rare earths and other critical minerals, seeking to reduce dependence on China and strengthen access to the resources that underpin modern economies and military capabilities. At the February 2026 Critical Minerals Ministerial, the State Department convened more than 50 countries and the European Commission to accelerate partnerships across Central Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Gulf, underscoring the urgency Washington now places on securing alternative sources of strategic materials.
