Highlights

• Uzbekistan's mineral reserves position it as a key player in diversifying global critical minerals and rare earth element supply chains.
• U.S.-Uzbekistan bilateral agreements, including the Minerals Security Partnership, signal growing strategic collaboration in resource acquisition.
• Potential challenges remain in fully realizing Uzbekistan's resource capabilities, including environmental impacts, investment requirements, and geopolitical complexities.

In a compelling editorial for Eurasian Geopolitics, Wilder Alejandro Sanchez (opens in a new tab) at the Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS) highlights the growing importance of Uzbekistan in the global supply chain for critical minerals (CMs) and rare earth elements (REEs). Sanchez argues that while U.S. policy often emphasizes "nearshoring" for critical resource acquisition, Uzbekistan's rich mineral reserves and recent bilateral agreements signal a strategic pivot toward engaging more distant, resource-rich partners. The key premise of the piece is that Uzbekistan’s vast deposits of REEs and critical minerals—such as germanium, silicon, uranium, and copper—position it as a pivotal player in diversifying supply chains and reducing U.S. reliance on Chinese imports, especially as demand surges for clean energy and defense technologies.

Recent developments, including a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed between the U.S. and Uzbekistan (opens in a new tab) in September 2024 and subsequent discussions during the November Strategic Partnership Dialogue, underscore this growing partnership.

Sanchez situates these agreements within broader initiatives, such as the Minerals Security Partnership (MSP) and the C5+1 Critical Minerals Dialogue, emphasizing Uzbekistan’s integration into global frameworks for mineral security.  It should be noted that at least two experts in the field who request anonymity raise doubts about the MSP.

While the editorial champions Uzbekistan’s potential, it acknowledges that further exploration, research, and transparent governance are required to fully realize the country's resource capabilities.

An analysis of Uzbekistan’s untapped potential and its geopolitical importance in securing alternative supply chains remains interesting.  Sanchez, however, opts to bypass some key topics such as risk, such as the logistical challenges of transporting minerals from Central Asia to U.S. markets, and the geopolitical complexities of deepening ties in a region often influenced by Russian and Chinese interests.

Also, remember the U.S. has little refining/processing and advanced magnet production, for example.  That could change with committed, prolonged investment in the form of a targeted, prescribed rare earth supply chain industrial policy to counter state-backed conglomerates.

Additionally, while Sanchez mentions Uzbekistan’s interest in expanding its mining sector, he does not critically explore the environmental and labor implications of increased resource extraction or the feasibility of scaling these initiatives without significant foreign investment.

Sanchez’s editorial effectively highlights Uzbekistan’s growing role in global critical minerals markets but leaves open questions about the sustainability and practicality of such partnerships. As Washington explores strategies for securing rare earths and critical minerals, Uzbekistan offers promise. Still, its integration into global supply chains will require careful navigation of economic, environmental, and geopolitical challenges.

Source: Geopolitical Monitor (opens in a new tab).