On January 15, 2026, President Trump signed the first critical minerals executive order (EO) of the year, titled “Adjusting Imports of Processed Critical Minerals and Their Derivative Products into the United States.” The order emphasizes the use of international cooperation to strengthen U.S. minerals security. With the United States fully import-dependent for 12 critical minerals and reliant on imports for more than half of its consumption of an additional 29, expanded coordination with allied and partner countries will be central to reducing supply chain vulnerabilities and dependence on China....

Introduction...

On Tuesday, January 6, China targeted Japan with new export restrictions on dual-use technologies, including rare earth elements, permanent magnets, and other critical minerals required for the production of defense technologies. The move is widely seen as a response to comments made in November by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, who stated that an attack on Taiwan could constitute an “existential threat” to Japan and justify a military response. These retaliatory measures underscore rising tensions between Beijing and Tokyo and serve as a pointed warning from China to countries that take explicit positions on cross-strait relations. While previous Chinese export controls have largely been in response to trade disputes, this latest iteration ties export restrictions to the Taiwan issue, underlining that Beijing’s critical minerals strategy is closely intertwined with its broader military objectives....

Introduction...

On December 25, 1956, the New York Times declared, “Venezuela Finds Big Ore Deposits; Geologists Assert Reserves of Minerals May Approach Nation’s Oil in Importance.” Nearly seven decades later, that promise has largely gone unrealized. Far from emerging as a major global mining power, Venezuela’s mineral sector has remained marginal, fragmented, and chronically underdeveloped....

Introduction...

The visit by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to Washington, D.C., marks a high-profile moment in the strategic partnership between the United States and Saudi Arabia. During meetings with U.S. President Donald Trump, the two sides are discussing a wide-ranging agenda: advancing arms and defense cooperation, expanding critical minerals cooperation, deepening economic and investment ties, and aligning on regional security challenges. ...

The country can become a prominent player in global minerals security...

Washington will host a C5+1 summit on November 6, marking the tenth anniversary of the regional diplomatic platform that brings together the United States and the five Central Asian states: Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. Since its establishment in 2015, the C5+1 has served as the primary forum for advancing cooperation on economic, energy and minerals, and security issues. This year’s summit carries particular weight: It comes at a moment when China and Russia are rapidly deepening their foothold in Central Asia’s minerals and infrastructure, positioning themselves at the center of the region’s emerging supply chains....

President Donald Trump and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese have signed a landmark Critical Minerals Framework, marking a major step toward advancing both nations’ ambitions for energy and minerals dominance. The agreement—finalized after five months of negotiations—aims to accelerate the buildout of resilient, allied mineral supply chains and reduce reliance on adversaries....

Beijing’s new export curbs turn resource dominance into a weapon, threatening Western access to vital materials...

In advance of President Donald Trump’s upcoming visit to South Korea later this month—where he is expected to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping for the first time since 2019—China announced that it has expanded its restrictions on rare earth and permanent magnet exports. The Chinese Ministry of Commerce’s Announcement No. 61 of 2025 implements the strictest rare earth and permanent magnet export controls to date. The move both strengthens Beijing’s leverage in upcoming talks while also undercutting U.S. efforts to bolster its industrial base....

Broader value of the legislation is in strengthening commercial diplomacy beyond mining in Africa ...

The Issue...

Beijing has a long track record of flooding markets, pulling back, and over-producing again...