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U.S. Strategy Against Chinese Dominance in Rare Earth Minerals
The State Department has informed Fox News Digital about its ongoing efforts to mitigate the ‘national security’ risks posed by China’s overpowering control of the rare earth minerals market. Increasingly, Africa is emerging as a key player in this initiative to challenge Beijing’s stronghold on this critical sector.
The 17 rare earth elements, known as REE, are essential for both human and national security, as highlighted by the Brookings Institution in 2022. These metals find applications in electronics such as computers, televisions, and smartphones, as well as renewable energy technologies, including wind turbines and electric vehicle batteries. Additionally, they are crucial for national defense applications that encompass jet engines, missile guidance systems, satellites, and GPS equipment.
According to Brookings, China accounts for 60% of the worldwide extraction of rare earth minerals and 85% of the processing capacity.
Africa’s Untapped Resources
Despite Beijing securing contracts in various African nations like the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) for shipping vital minerals such as cobalt to China, the continent boasts vast yet underutilized resources. The African Union’s Minerals Development Center recently noted that significant specialized rare earth mines are expected to come online by 2029 in nations including Tanzania, Angola, Malawi, and South Africa. These mines could potentially contribute nearly 10% of the global supply.
This situation has prompted the Trump administration to bolster its efforts aimed at increasing U.S. involvement in Africa’s mining sector. A State Department spokesperson mentioned, ‘Our approach prioritizes establishing partnerships with African nations to ensure their minerals are exported westward, rather than eastward towards China.’
China as a Strategic Threat
Within Africa, China has become a growing concern for Washington. The spokesperson elaborated, ‘China’s dominance in global mineral supply chains, particularly in processing and refining, poses a significant threat to both U.S. and African interests. Beijing’s state-directed initiatives exploit Africa’s abundant resources while consolidating control over upstream mining assets. This approach perpetuates opaque governance structures, degrades local environments, and creates economic dependencies that weaken regional stability.’
Current estimates indicate that the U.S. imports approximately 70% of all necessary rare earth elements from China, underscoring the urgent need for alternative sources.
Political Perspectives on Mineral Dependency
Senator Jim Risch, R-Idaho and Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, expressed his concerns regarding this dependency, stating, ‘Relying on China for critical minerals necessary for a modern economy represents a top national security risk that President Biden neglected for four years. Under President Trump’s leadership, we can pinpoint new sources in Africa, strengthen our partnerships, and ensure America’s defense capabilities are not placed at the mercy of our adversaries.’
Investment Strategies to Enhance Trade
The U.S. administration seeks to expand its engagement in Africa with ongoing investments. The State Department spokesperson affirmed, ‘The United States aims to make targeted investments in infrastructure to facilitate the export of minerals from Africa to global markets. A prime example is the Lobito Corridor, which provides a viable alternative to the transportation routes controlled by China for minerals from Africa’s Copperbelt to the Atlantic Ocean.’
Recently, the administration announced a commitment of $550 million towards the Lobito Corridor, an 800-mile railway and infrastructure project that connects mineral-rich areas in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Zambia with Angola’s Atlantic coast. This initiative will improve shipping access to the U.S.
Peace and Prosperity through Partnership
The State Department spokesperson remarked that one significant advantage derived from the recent peace deal, which ended a 30-year conflict between the DRC and Rwanda, is improved access to minerals. The spokesperson elaborated, ‘The bilateral agreement between the U.S. and DRC is intended to create opportunities for new investments from the U.S. and U.S.-aligned partners in vital mining projects across the DRC.’
Unlocking Africa’s Geologic Potential
Analysts, including Dr. Gracelin Baskaran from Washington’s Center for Strategic and International Studies, contend that this represents a new era of opportunity for the U.S. in Africa. According to Baskaran, ‘Africa is the last great frontier of mineral discovery. Despite its potential, it has often been undervalued in global mineral exploration, even though it yields some of the highest returns per dollar invested.’
Dr. Baskaran referenced a notable decline in Africa’s share of worldwide exploration spending, dropping from 16% in 2004 to only 10.4% in 2024. This decline is alarming, given that Sub-Saharan Africa ranks as the most cost-efficient region for mineral exploration, boasting a mineral-value-to-exploration-spending ratio of 0.8 — significantly higher than Australia (0.5), Canada (0.6), and Latin America (0.3).
The U.S. Approach to Exploration
Despite its considerable geological promise and a landmass that is three times the size of Australia and Canada combined, these two countries captured 15.9% and 19.8% respectively of global exploration spending in 2024, far overshadowing Africa’s share.
Baskaran further notes that the U.S. has an excellent opportunity for development since China typically avoids early-stage exploration. Instead, the Chinese model often entails acquiring projects that are already under development or near production. ‘This scenario presents a genuine opportunity for the U.S. and its allies,’ Baskaran stated. Even in long-established mining nations like Zambia and the DRC, less than half of the land is fully mapped. Targeted investments in geological mapping and early-stage project development could significantly enhance the U.S. presence across the continent.
Identifying Key Locations for Mining
According to analyst C. Géraud Neema Byamungu from the independent China-Global South Project, Namibia emerges as a prime location in Africa for heavy rare earth minerals, providing an alternative to China. He highlighted, ‘Namibia’s Lofdal project stands out as a significant prospect.’
