The United States is losing the battle with China over critical minerals like graphite, nickel, lithium, and cobalt that are essential for green technologies and national defense.
While the Trump administration has been aggressively pushing for greater access to these resources in places like Ukraine and Greenland, China maintains control over many of the best mineral deposits, allowing it to dictate prices.
U.S. policy inconsistency has disrupted Western mining companies’ plans, and these companies often struggle to navigate the political risks in countries where critical minerals are abundant, leaving them vulnerable when instability occurs.