Highlights

• Anadolu Agency report highlights growing tensions in the US-China rare earth trade conflict.
• Turkey's strategic location offers the potential to become a critical minerals supply chain actor.
• National strategy and global partnerships could position Turkey as a key player in the emerging economic landscape.

A recent report by Anadolu Agency (opens in a new tab) underscores growing concern in Turkish media over China’s dominance in the rare earth supply chain amid escalating trade tensions with the United States.

The article correctly frames rare earths as vital to global technology and defense sectors and highlights the strategic risks posed by China’s export restrictions and near-monopoly over key materials. However, the coverage stops short of addressing Turkey’s potential as a strategic actor in the rare earth realignment.

Despite its advantageous location between Asia and Europe and documented mineral resources, Turkey is portrayed as a passive observer in a conflict that could reshape global supply chains. The article omits the discussion of whether Turkey has a critical minerals strategy, industrial policy, or diplomatic positioning to attract investment and build resilience in clean energy, defense, and advanced manufacturing sectors. This lack of introspection represents a missed opportunity to articulate Turkey’s interests in a rapidly evolving geopolitical landscape.

Rare Earth Exchanges urges Turkish leaders, policymakers, and investors to recognize and seize the opportunity to play a proactive role in the critical minerals space. By crafting a deliberate national strategy and engaging with global partners, Turkey could emerge as a vital hub in the effort to diversify and secure rare earth supply chains for the 21st-century economy.