Rare Earth Exchanges

Securing Critical Minerals: A National Defense Priority, But is it Enough?

Leave a Comment

Highlights

  • The Department of Defense is prioritizing secure sourcing of critical minerals essential for defense technologies.
  • DOD has invested over $439 million since 2020 to develop domestic rare earth supply chains and international partnerships.
  • Strategic collaboration with allies like the UK, Australia, and Canada aims to mitigate supply chain risks from adversarial actions.

The Department of Defense (DOD) prioritizes the secure sourcing of critical minerals vital to the defense industrial base, which powers technologies ranging from fighter jets to submarines. Adam Burstein (opens in a new tab), the Technical Director for Strategic and Critical Materials, recently spoke at the Naval War College about the urgency of building resilient supply chains.

Disruptions caused by adversarial actions, such as China’s export bans on gallium, germanium, and antimony, underscore vulnerabilities in U.S. supply chains. To mitigate these risks, Burstein stressed the need to strengthen domestic mining and processing and invest in allied partnerships.

Investment Level

Since 2020, the DOD has invested over $439 million to develop domestic rare earth supply chains. These elements, critical across nearly all defense systems, are now supported by a five-year investment strategy to bolster U.S. capacity. Despite these efforts, the U.S. has only one active rare earth mine, necessitating expanded domestic production and international collaboration.

To enhance supply chain security, Congress has designated the United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada as domestic sources under the Defense Production Act. Collaborative projects with Canada, co-funded by both governments, aim to increase secure supplies of key materials like cobalt and tungsten. Additionally, 19 security supply cooperation agreements with partner nations allow priority delivery of DOD contracts, reinforcing mutual defense capabilities.

Stockpiling critical minerals further buffers against unanticipated demand or supply disruptions, safeguarding national security. Burstein emphasized that the U.S. can build a resilient defense industrial base equipped to meet future challenges through domestic efforts and international alliances.

Not Enough

While the article highlights the DOD’s efforts to secure critical mineral supply chains, it does not address the scale of investment needed to counter China’s dominance in downstream processing and production. The $439 million allocated since 2020 pales in comparison to the comprehensive infrastructure and expertise China has established, which allows it to control the global market for refining and manufacturing critical materials.

Additionally, the recent DOD News article omits a discussion of how the U.S. plans to bridge the labor and skill gaps required to support expanded domestic production or navigate environmental and regulatory hurdles tied to mining and processing. Without substantial increases in funding, technological innovation, and coordinated strategies with allies, the U.S. remains at significant risk of supply chain vulnerabilities.

Spread the word: