REEs & Ag deficiencies can prevent war -Silver, Rare Earths new role as peace keepers

[Sparty]

The United States- technological and military edge depends on secure access to silver and rare earth elements (REEs) materials that underpin everything from advanced weapons and satellites to renewable energy and electronics. In 2025, these supply chains face persistent vulnerabilities.

Silver remains in structural deficit for the fifth consecutive year, with the gap narrowing by 21% to 117.6 million troy ounces in 2025. This transient narrowing is due to a 1% fall in demand and a 2% rise in supply, driven by expanded mining in Mexico, Peru, and Poland, as well as stable recycling volumes. Industrial demand for silver hit a record 680.5 million ounces in 2024 and is expected to remain strong, especially for electronics, electric vehicles, and solar panels. However, the U.S. produces only about 17% of its annual silver needs domestically and continues to rely heavily on imports, particularly from Mexico and Canada.

https://silverinstitute.org/global-s...ficit-in-2025/
https://discoveryalert.com.au/news/s...d-contraction/
https://www.mining.com/web/lower-sil...by-21-in-2025/

Trade tensions and tariffs are a key risk for the silver market. U.S. tariffs on Mexican and Canadian silver have increased costs, added delays, and complicated supply chains for American manufacturers. These trade barriers could further disrupt just-in-time delivery systems and drive up fabrication costs, with the London Metal Exchange already reporting doubled warehousing delays for silver.
https://discoveryalert.com.au/news/s...d-contraction/

Silver's strategic value in defense is clear: it is essential for precision-guided munitions, advanced communications, and energy systems. In a high-intensity conflict, U.S. military silver demand could far exceed domestic mine output and quickly exhaust available inventories. The U.S. has limited strategic silver stockpiles, and new mine development takes decades, not years.

Refining silver to the high purity required for military and electronics applications relies on nitric acid* as a key reagent. The process, whether through direct leaching or electrolytic refining, uses nitric acid to dissolve silver and separate it from impurities, producing high-purity silver suitable for advanced uses. * The recently floated idea that the U.S. could use export controls on chemicals like nitric acid to disrupt rivals' silver refining is not supported by the facts.

https://www.frtmachinery.com/refinin...tric-acid.html
https://www.guanmamachinery.com/elec...fining-silver/
https://www.sciencedirect.com/scienc...04386X04001082

*However, the recently floated notion that the U.S. could restrict China's access to nitric acid and thereby disrupt its silver refining is not realistic.
China is one of the world's largest producers of nitric acid, with an annual production capacity of at least 6 million tons and a mature, vertically integrated chemical industry. Even if the U.S. and its allies imposed export controls, China could easily meet any foreseeable demand for nitric acid domestically. The real bottlenecks for silver refining in China are not chemicals, but the availability of high-purity feedstock, energy, and the willingness to divert material from civilian to military use.
https://www.hiseachem.com/nitric-acid.html
https://www.chemanalyst.com/NewsAndD...ersupply-32126

China's silver position is formidable, with large reserves and aggressive stockpiling, but much of its domestic silver is allocated to solar and industrial uses. Only a portion is refined to the purity required for military applications, and China is a net importer of silver concentrates from Peru, Mexico, and Russia. In a crisis, China would almost certainly prioritize military needs over civilian sectors, as its government has repeatedly demonstrated the ability to redirect resources for strategic objectives.
https://www.mining.com/web/chinas-si...-lifts-prices/

The U.S. faces a parallel vulnerability with rare earth elements. China controls about 85% of global REE processing capacity and has imposed export controls on several critical REEs, which are essential for U.S. defense and high-tech manufacturing. The U.S. is years away from building a fully independent REE supply chain, despite increased government investment and international partnerships.

https://discoveryalert.com.au/news/a...elements-2025/
https://www.csis.org/analysis/conseq...t-restrictions

Both the U.S. and China are exposed to strategic material risks: the U.S. cannot quickly scale up silver or REE supply, while China's ability to convert its reserves into military-grade material is limited by feedstock and logistics, not by access to basic chemicals like nitric acid. In any major conflict, both sides would divert resources from civilian to military use as a matter of course.

The reality is that neither side can easily weaponize chemical supply chains against the other, and the true "sword of Damocles" hanging over both nations is the persistent, structural shortage of critical materials. Unless the U.S. accelerates investment in domestic mining, refining, recycling, and international partnerships, its technological and military edge will remain at risk, vulnerable not to the loss of a single chemical, but to the fragility of global supply chains for silver and rare earths.

https://silverinstitute.org/global-s...ficit-in-2025/
https://discoveryalert.com.au/news/s...d-contraction/
https://www.mining.com/web/lower-sil...by-21-in-2025/
https://www.frtmachinery.com/refinin...tric-acid.html
https://www.guanmamachinery.com/elec...fining-silver/
https://www.hiseachem.com/nitric-acid.html
https://discoveryalert.com.au/news/a...elements-2025/
https://www.csis.org/analysis/conseq...t-restrictions

Citations:
[1] https://www.mining.com/web/lower-sil...by-21-in-2025/
[2] https://discoveryalert.com.au/news/s...g-causes-2025/
[3] https://silverinstitute.org/global-s...ficit-in-2025/
[4] https://discoveryalert.com.au/news/s...d-contraction/
[5] https://finimize.com/content/silver-...eficit-narrows
[6] https://www.frtmachinery.com/refinin...tric-acid.html
[7] https://www.globenewswire.com/news-r...z-in-2024.html
[8] https://www.sciencedirect.com/scienc...04386X04001082
[9] https://investingnews.com/daily/reso...lver-forecast/
[10] https://www.britannica.com/technology/silver-processing
[11] https://www.marketscreener.com/quote...2025-49634500/
[12] https://www.guanmamachinery.com/elec...fining-silver/
[13] https://www.bloomberg.com/news/artic...-in-four-years
[14] https://emew.com/blog/silver-refining
[15] https://www.kitco.com/news/article/2...lver-institute
[16] https://www.guanmamachinery.com/silv...etal-recovery/
[17] https://xinhongfa.en.made-in-china.c...ing-Plant.html
[18] https://www.alibaba.com/product-deta...740775387.html
[19] https://www.hiseachem.com/nitric-acid.html
[20] https://www.goldsrefining.com

[Sparty]

Silver and Rare Earth Elements are both essential for advanced military and high-tech systems. Could shortages or supply chain disruptions act as powerful brakes on the ability of major powers to wage prolonged, high-tech wars?

Both silver and REEs are critical for manufacturing advanced weapons, fighter jets, missiles, radar, satellites, and precision electronics. There are no real substitutes for these materials in most military applications. For example, each F-35 fighter jet contains over 900 pounds (408 Kg) of rare earths, and high-purity silver is indispensable for guidance systems and advanced communications. N.B. There is very little to no information available as to the amount of silver in modern military aircraft according to Perplexity Ai and several other AIs as of 18/04/2025.
https://thediplomat.com/2022/01/rare...of-the-future/
https://discoveryalert.com.au/news/c...strategy-2025/

The United States and its allies are heavily dependent on imports for both silver and rare earths, with China dominating global supply chains. China controls about 85% of rare earth processing and a major share of global silver supply chains, and has repeatedly demonstrated its willingness to use export controls as a geopolitical tool. Recent Chinese restrictions on rare earths and other critical minerals have already caused shipment delays and threaten to disrupt U.S. and NATO defense production.

https://discoveryalert.com.au/news/c...strategy-2025/
https://investornews.com/critical-mi...-with-the-u-s/

The U.S. and its allies are trying to diversify supply by investing in new mines and forging partnerships in Greenland, Australia, and Brazil, but experts warn that it will take years to build independent supply chains. The West still lacks the domestic refining and magnet-making capacity needed for military self-sufficiency, and progress is slow.
https://discoveryalert.com.au/news/u...-implications/
https://www.gssc.lt/wp-content/uploa...rths_A4_EN.pdf

Mineral shortages are now recognized by U.S. and European military planners as a serious risk. War games and simulations show that in a major conflict, the U.S. could rapidly burn through missile and munitions stockpiles, far outpacing current mineral supply and production rates. Disrupted sea-lanes or further export controls could quickly halt defense manufacturing.
https://carnegieendowment.org/resear...eral-shortages
https://thediplomat.com/2022/01/rare...of-the-future/

Because neither side can guarantee reliable access to these minerals in a crisis, the risk of running out of essential materials acts as a brake on the scale and duration of any future great-power war. This supply chain fragility now serves as a deterrent, making both sides wary of escalation. In this way, silver and rare earths have become inadvertent peacekeepers, limiting both the appetite and the ability for sustained high-tech conflict.
https://discoveryalert.com.au/news/c...strategy-2025/
https://thediplomat.com/2022/01/rare...of-the-future/
https://www.gssc.lt/wp-content/uploa...rths_A4_EN.pdf

[Sparty]

Given Australia's emerging ability to mine and refine and metalize REEs and Silver it likely deserves more mention?

Australia's emerging role in mining, refining, and metalizing rare earth elements (REEs) and silver absolutely deserves more attention in any discussion of global critical minerals and strategic security.

Australia is now recognized as a world leader in critical minerals supply, with extensive reserves and a rapidly expanding production and processing sector. The country has made major investments in both rare earths and silver, positioning itself as a reliable alternative to China for allied nations seeking secure supply chains.
https://www.ga.gov.au/news/australia...inerals-supply
https://discoveryalert.com.au/news/c...ustralia-2025/

Australia's Labor government established a Critical Minerals Strategic Reserve in early 2025, aimed at buffering against global supply shocks and incentivizing domestic exploration and production. This move is designed to insulate Australia's supply chains from external pressures and reinforce its reputation as a dependable supplier for the U.S., Japan, and Europe.
https://discoveryalert.com.au/news/a...-reserve-2025/

Australia's rare earths sector is rapidly scaling up.
Projects like Australian Strategic Materials Dubbo Project and Lynas Corporation's expansions are creating a vertically integrated, "mine-to-metals" supply chain that bypasses Chinese processing. The Dubbo Project alone is expected to provide a 70-year resource life and produce both light and heavy rare earths, with metal and alloy production capabilities in Australia and South Korea.

https://discoveryalert.com.au/news/a...ly-chain-2025/
https://investornews.com/critical-mi...-supply-chain/

Australia is also investing heavily in new processing and refining capacity for rare earths, with government-backed projects like Iluka's refinery in Western Australia and Arafura's Nolans project in the Northern Territory. These efforts are supported by hundreds of millions of dollars in public and private investment, and are designed to establish Australia as a central, independent player in the global supply chain for critical minerals.
https://www.mining-technology.com/fe...e-earths-game/
https://investingnews.com/australia-...-independence/

Australia's silver sector is also significant.

Investigator Resources Limited (ASX: IVR) is an Australian metals explorer focused on South Australia's Gawler Craton, with a primary emphasis on silver and critical minerals. Its flagship asset is the 100%-owned Paris Silver Project, considered Australia's highest-grade undeveloped primary silver project, holding a JORC resource of 57 million ounces of silver and 99,000 tonnes of lead.
https://investingnews.com/biggest-asx-silver-stocks/

The Bowdens Silver Project, operated by Silver Mines Limited (ASX: SVL), is the largest known undeveloped silver deposit in Australia and one of the largest globally. It is located about 26 kilometres east of Mudgee in the Central Tablelands of New South Wales, within Exploration Licence 5920, which covers approximately 9,244 hectares

Projections suggest Australia could increase its share of global rare earth production to around 20% by 2030, making it a true cornerstone of Western supply chains. The country's political stability, transparent regulatory system, and strong environmental standards make it a preferred partner for the U.S. and its allies.
https://discoveryalert.com.au/news/c...ustralia-2025/
https://discoveryalert.com.au/news/r...egic-benefits/

In summary, Australia's rapid progress under the current government in mining, refining, and metalizing both rare earths and silver is transforming the global critical minerals landscape.

Australia is poised to become a key strategic supplier for Western defense, energy, and technology sectors, significantly reducing allied dependence on China and strengthening the resilience of global supply chains.

https://www.ga.gov.au/news/australia...inerals-supply
https://discoveryalert.com.au/news/a...-reserve-2025/
https://discoveryalert.com.au/news/a...ly-chain-2025/
https://investornews.com/critical-mi...-supply-chain/
https://investingnews.com/biggest-asx-silver-stocks/
https://discoveryalert.com.au/news/c...ustralia-2025/
https://discoveryalert.com.au/news/r...egic-benefits/

[Sparty]

China's Silver Strategy: Foresight or "Covert" Operation? Unpacking the Narrative

China's approach to securing silver has become a hot topic in financial and geopolitical circles. Is it really a "covert" operation, or just smart industrial policy? Let's break down the facts, the media framing, and what it means for global markets.

China's Silver Stockpiling: Strategy, Not Secrecy
China imports large quantities of silver concentrates and refines them domestically to meet soaring industrial demand?especially for solar panels, electronics, and advanced manufacturing. This approach is efficient and strategic, enabling China to build reserves without causing price spikes or drawing excessive market attention. There's nothing illegal or inherently secretive about this; it's a common-sense move for any nation seeking resource security.

The "Covert" Label: Media Framing and Geopolitical Rhetoric
Western media often imply China's resource strategies are "covert" or "secretive." This language isn't just about transparency? it's part of a broader geopolitical narrative that paints China's foresight as a threat or as underhanded behavior. Meanwhile, similar actions by Western nations (like the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve) are usually called prudent or strategic.

Why the Rhetoric Matters
Labeling China's actions as "covert" serves several purposes:

Stokes public anxiety about China's rise.

Highlights Western policy gaps by casting China's planning in a negative light.

Supports a "China threat" narrative in the context of global competition for resources and technology.

Media analysis shows that this framing is widespread, especially in Western outlets with significant influence on public opinion.

Market Implications
China's strategic stockpiling and advanced refining capacity could tighten global silver supplies, driving up prices and increasing volatility. For investors, alternative energy advocates, and policymakers, understanding the reality, beyond the rhetoric, is essential for informed decision-making.

Conclusion
China's silver strategy is about foresight, not sneakiness. The "covert" label says more about media and geopolitical competition than about China's actual actions. Recognizing this helps us see the bigger picture: in a world of resource competition, strategic planning is not just smart? it's necessary.

[Sparty]

China's Rare Earth Dominance: Foresight Realized
China's dominance in rare earth elements (REEs) is a direct result of long-term strategic vision, technological investment, and industrial policy- an approach famously articulated by Deng Xiaoping. As early as the late 1980s and early 1990s, Deng recognized the critical importance of REEs, reportedly stating, "The Middle East has oil, China has rare earths." This statement encapsulated China's intent to leverage its vast rare earth resources as a foundation for economic and technological power.

Deng Xiaoping's Foresight and Its Impact
Deng's comment was not just rhetorical; it signaled a national strategy. While many countries, including the United States and Australia, possess significant rare earth reserves, China invested heavily in every stage of the supply chain, from mining and separation to refining and manufacturing high-value products like magnets and batteries. This comprehensive approach allowed China to move beyond simply exporting raw materials, instead building a dominant position in the downstream sectors that generate the most value.

How China Achieved Dominance
Technological Innovation: Chinese scientists, such as Xu Guangxian, developed advanced extraction and separation techniques in the 1970s, enabling efficient processing of complex rare earth mixtures.

Policy and Investment: Through national R&D programs and strategic planning, China scaled up production, refined supply chain control, and encouraged the growth of domestic industries that rely on REEs.

Environmental and Cost Factors: Western countries often scaled back rare earth production due to environmental and regulatory concerns, while China accepted the environmental costs to secure industrial leadership.

Supply Chain Control: By the 2000s, China not only led in mining but also controlled over 85% of global processing capacity, especially for critical heavy rare earths. This control extends to the production of magnets and other high-value components essential for electronics, renewable energy, and defense.

Strategic Leverage and Global Implications
China's rare earth policy has given it significant geopolitical leverage. For example, in 2010, China restricted exports of REEs to Japan during a diplomatic dispute, highlighting how these materials can be used as a "counter weapon." Today, China still supplies about 70% of the world's rare earths and over 80% of U.S. imports. Efforts by other countries to diversify supply chains have so far struggled to match China's scale and technological expertise.

Conclusion
Deng Xiaoping's foresight in the 1980s and 1990s set the stage for China's rare earth dominance, which remains central to global technology, energy, and defense industries. The statement, "China has rare earths," was both a prediction and a blueprint,one that continues to shape the balance of power in critical supply chains today.

Further Reading and Resources:

U.S. Geological Survey: Rare Earths Statistics and Information

Reuters: How China Became the World's Rare Earths Powerhouse

Brookings Institution: The Geopolitics of Rare Earth Elements

BBC: What Are Rare Earth Metals and Why Are They So Important?

[Sparty]

Reasons for Secrecy and Opacity Around Silver Use in Military Aircraft

Strategic and Operational Security

The secrecy and lack of transparency about silver use in advanced military aircraft like the F-35 is mainly due to national security concerns. Silver is a strategic material in modern defense systems, valued for its unmatched electrical conductivity, corrosion resistance, and reliability in mission-critical applications. Revealing precise quantities or specific uses could unintentionally disclose sensitive information about the design, capabilities, or weaknesses of advanced weaponry and electronic warfare systems.

Historical Precedent and Ongoing Policy

This approach is not new. During the Manhattan Project in World War II, the US government secretly diverted large amounts of silver to build electromagnetic coils for uranium enrichment, showing the metal's critical role and the importance of secrecy. Since the late 1990s, US government agencies such as the Department of Defense and the US Geological Survey have stopped publishing data on military silver inventories, continuing this policy of opacity.

Competitive and Geopolitical Considerations

Military technologies are always in global competition. Disclosing the extent of silver usage could give adversaries clues about the sophistication, scale, or operational limits of US and allied defense systems. This is especially important because silver's role in military applications is believed to be much greater than in any other sector, possibly surpassing industrial and investment demand. As geopolitical tensions rise, the strategic value of silver and the need to conceal its military consumption only increase.

Market and Supply Chain Implications

Being open about military silver usage could also affect global silver markets, possibly increasing prices or causing supply chain issues if the scale of demand were widely known. This could impact both military procurement and civilian industries that rely on silver.

Summary of Reasons for Opacity

Strategic security: Prevents adversaries from deducing capabilities or vulnerabilities of military technology.

Historical precedent: Continues long-standing policies from projects like the Manhattan Project.

Geopolitical competition: Maintains a technological advantage in the global military landscape.

Market impact: Avoids destabilizing silver markets or supply chains.

Operational reliability: Ensures uninterrupted access to a critical resource for defense systems.

For more on silver's strategic uses, see:
http://www.usgs.gov
http://www.silverinstitute.org

In summary, the lack of transparency around silver's use in military aircraft is a deliberate strategy to protect national security, maintain a technological edge, and safeguard critical supply chains in an era when advanced electronics and materials are central to military power.

[Sparty]

Reasons for Secrecy and Opacity Around Silver Use in Military Aircraft

Strategic and Operational Security

The secrecy and lack of transparency about silver use in advanced military aircraft like the F-35 is mainly due to national security concerns. Silver is a strategic material in modern defense systems, valued for its unmatched electrical conductivity, corrosion resistance, and reliability in mission-critical applications. Revealing precise quantities or specific uses could unintentionally disclose sensitive information about the design, capabilities, or weaknesses of advanced weaponry and electronic warfare systems.

Historical Precedent and Ongoing Policy

This approach is not new. During the Manhattan Project in World War II, the US government secretly diverted large amounts of silver to build electromagnetic coils for uranium enrichment, showing the metal's critical role and the importance of secrecy. Since the late 1990s, US government agencies such as the Department of Defense and the US Geological Survey have stopped publishing data on military silver inventories, continuing this policy of opacity.

Competitive and Geopolitical Considerations

Military technologies are always in global competition. Disclosing the extent of silver usage could give adversaries clues about the sophistication, scale, or operational limits of US and allied defense systems. This is especially important because silver's role in military applications is believed to be much greater than in any other sector, possibly surpassing industrial and investment demand. As geopolitical tensions rise, the strategic value of silver and the need to conceal its military consumption only increase.

Market and Supply Chain Implications

Being open about military silver usage could also affect global silver markets, possibly increasing prices or causing supply chain issues if the scale of demand were widely known. This could impact both military procurement and civilian industries that rely on silver.

Summary of Reasons for Opacity

Strategic security: Prevents adversaries from deducing capabilities or vulnerabilities of military technology.

Historical precedent: Continues long-standing policies from projects like the Manhattan Project.

Geopolitical competition: Maintains a technological advantage in the global military landscape.

Market impact: Avoids destabilizing silver markets or supply chains.

Operational reliability: Ensures uninterrupted access to a critical resource for defense systems.

For more on silver's strategic uses, see:
http://www.usgs.gov
http://www.silverinstitute.org

In summary, the lack of transparency around silver's use in military aircraft is a deliberate strategy to protect national security, maintain a technological edge, and safeguard critical supply chains in an era when advanced electronics and materials are central to military power.

Previous discussion re Silver in this forum:
The earliest occurrence among the referenced articles about silver's role in modern warfare, industry, or alternative energy on www.alternative-energy.com.au is:

Title: USA Silver Squeeze: Data-driven examination of U.S. Silver
Date: August 3, 2011
Link: http://www.alternative-energy.com.au...ad.php?p=13519
This post discusses the critical role of silver in modern warfare, advanced technology, and the strategic vulnerabilities arising from the depletion of U.S. silver reserves.



Modern War without SILVER?
http://www.alternative-energy.com.au...ad.php?p=13519

Silver shortage predicted by world bank - Page 3
http://www.alternative-energy.com.au...t=10364&page=3

Solar and Silver
http://www.alternative-energy.com.au...ead.php?t=9896

Strategic Metals and Global Power
http://www.alternative-energy.com.au...ad.php?p=13639

Silver, Rare Earths can prevent war?
http://www.alternative-energy.com.au...ad.php?p=13708

Silver shortage predicted by world bank
http://www.alternative-energy.com.au...ad.php?p=13269

Trump's Tariffs
http://www.alternative-energy.com.au...ad.php?p=13701

[Sparty]

In past centuries, nations fought wars to control silver mines that fueled their empires' currencies. Today, a paradoxical reversal emerges: silver's scarcity and irreplaceable role in modern warfare may deter conflict rather than provoke it. This strategic shift extends to rare earth elements (REEs), with both material groups forming a 21st-century deterrent framework grounded in mutual supply chain vulnerability.

## Silver: From Conquest Catalyst to Conflict Constraint
Modern military systems depend on silver's unique properties:

- **Precision strike systems** require silver-coated bearings for missile guidance (https://www.alternative-energy.com.a...ad.php?p=13708)
- **Satellite constellations** use silver-zinc batteries providing 40% higher energy density than lithium alternatives (https://www.mining.com/web/seven-rar...gainst-the-us/)
- **Directed energy weapons** rely on silver-nitrate cooling systems to manage extreme thermal loads

The U.S. defense sector consumes 18% of national silver imports despite constituting just 3.4% of total industrial use (https://www.alternative-energy.com.a...ad.php?p=13708). With Mexico supplying 38% of American silver imports, any disruption would ground F-35 production within 90 days (https://www.mining.com/web/seven-rar...gainst-the-us/).

## Rare Earth Elements: The Digital Age Deterrent
REEs enable key military technologies:

System Critical REE Vulnerability Timeline
F-35 Lightning II Dysprosium Supply chain collapse in 6 months
Hypersonic Gliders Neodymium Guidance failure within 3 months
Quantum Radars Yttrium Detection range halved in 8 weeks

(https://discoveryalert.com.au/news/r...itical-impact/, https://www.mining.com/web/seven-rar...gainst-the-us/)

China's dominance in REE processing (92% of global capacity) gives it theoretical leverage, but 73% of its production services civilian sectors like EVs and wind turbines (https://discoveryalert.com.au/news/r...itical-impact/). This creates mutual vulnerability - any export restriction would simultaneously cripple China's green energy transition.

## The New Deterrence Calculus
Four factors make silver/REEs effective peacekeepers:

1. **Civilian-military resource competition**: 68% of silver and 81% of REEs feed non-defense sectors (https://www.alternative-energy.com.a...ad.php?p=13708)
2. **Alliance interdependencies**: No single nation controls both silver mining and REE refining at scale
3. **Weapons vs. Infrastructure tradeoffs**: Stockpiled munitions become useless if power grids fail from material shortages
4. **Escalation paradox**: Attempting to secure resources through force likely destroys the very infrastructure needed for their production

Australia's Critical Minerals Accelerator Initiative demonstrates how middle powers can stabilize supply chains, having funded 17 new REE processing facilities since 2023 (https://discoveryalert.com.au/news/r...itical-impact/). These projects reduce desperation-driven aggression by providing alternative sources.

The transition from "blood silver" to "peace silver" reflects warfare's evolving material foundations. Just as nuclear weapons made great-power war unwinnable, silver and REE shortages make it unsustainable. This paradigm rewards nations investing in circular supply chains and international mineral partnerships, potentially ushering in an era where economic security strategies prevent kinetic conflicts.