In @Journal_INDOPAC, @MBazilian & I discuss the concept of "mineral power" & how a state’s mineral power influences its military power. We assess the US in early 20th century & China in early 21st century, finding mineral power helps enable military power.

3/3 Today, the US military is at a greater risk of severe mineral shortages if a US-China war were to unfold: the United States has limited mineral stockpiles; low domestic mineral production; and heavy mineral import reliance, including on its great power rival, China.

RT @TalonMetals: 🚨 Securing America’s Mineral Supply Chains: A Bipartisan Opportunity 🚨 Strengthening U.S. mineral supply chains is one of…

RT @MBazilian: Latest one on critical minerals and national security: The @DeptofDefense is doing terrific work in this area. We suggest…

In @_RCEnergy, @MBazilian, @JaharaMatisek, & I argue the USG should use the DPA—as it did in the Cold War—to build a mineral stockpile. The DPA inventory could sell minerals to the DIB amid shortages & acquire minerals from US producers to boost output.

Press release by American Active Anode Material Producers (AAAMP), a coalition of American graphite producers:

NATO published "a list of 12 defence-critical raw materials essential for the Allied defence industry" & "to the manufacture of advanced defence systems and equipment." BUT, this list excludes minerals consumed in large volumes by militaries: copper, lead, zinc, nickel, chromium.

Trump’s team is reportedly considering imposing Section 232 tariffs on mineral imports. Here’s my proposal from Aug on how the admin should use both tariffs and tariff rate quotas to maximize US reserve extraction and target US refining self-sufficiency:

@benchmarkmin @MBazilian 3/3 Other policies we think the Trump admin may consider are: -Reverse public land orders (e.g., Boundary Waters) that ban mining in mineral-rich areas -Enhance Buy American mineral reqs for govt procurement & Buy America reqs for govt-funded projects -More mineral stockpiling

In @RCDefense, @MBazilian, @JaharaMatisek, & I discuss how the US can fortify its defense base against mineral export bans: stockpiling minerals of course, but also signing right-of-first-refusal offtake agreements for uncontracted mineral production.

Memo from @WHCommsDir says Biden admin will "continue taking action to protect our lands & waters...." Based on the actions of past Dem admins, these actions could include national monument proclamations and public land orders withdrawing tracts of land from mineral development.

@ExnerPirot The US "plan" was not to halt DPA funding for Canadian mineral projects, but halting DPA funding for Canadian mineral projects is one possible policy response to Canada's threats. I doubt the USG wants to give money to mineral projects in a country threatening export controls.

@ExnerPirot If tariffs result in increased US mineral production, the resulting US economic and national security benefits will far exceed the ~$65 mil in DPA grants committed to Canadian mineral projects. Also, if the DPA grants are phased, the incoming admin could also halt a lot of the $.

In @rc_markets, @epistemic_war & I discuss how the US can respond by threatening to (1) halt $$$ disbursement of DPA grants to Canadian recipients, (2) pause reviews of Canadian projects considered for DPA grants, & (3) restrict mineral exports to Canada.

Full quote: “Some premiers proactively identified products that their provinces produce and export to the United States and which the US relies on and should be considered as part of the Canadian response. This included some critical minerals and metals.”