The Geopolitics of Rare Earths

On 14 January, Ben Smith, DPhil in International Development, presented The Geopolitics of Rare Earths at the Oxford EARTH Co-working session. The Lobito Corridor was referenced as a key case study, drawing on the docu-film Lobito-Bound, to explore Oxford EARTH themes around equitable access to sustainable resources.

Smith approached rare earths from a political perspective, while audience members contributed geological and geographical insights, resulting in a broad and substantive discussion.

Key points from the presentation:

• Breaking China’s monopoly over rare earth supply remains difficult, as new mines typically take 10–20 years to become operational.
• There is no effective international regulatory framework to prevent states from exploiting resource monopolies. China imposed export controls on multiple raw materials in 2023, 2024, and 2025 without legal repercussions.

Points raised in the wider discussion:

• Actual rare earth demand in the United States and other countries is significantly lower than commonly claimed.
• The United States no longer publishes its rare earth requirements.
• Geopolitical concerns, rather than the clean energy transition, appear to be the primary driver of current US efforts to secure rare earth supplies.
• The Trump administration’s preference for fossil fuels may divert attention and resources away from critical minerals.

This session highlighted the benefits of interdisciplinary and collaborative discussions in understanding critical mineral supply chains.

Smith's Recommended Readings:

Rare Earths: From Terrestrial Subsoils to Lunar Landscapes by Julie Klinger (2017)

China and the Geopolitics of Rare Earths by Sophia Kalantzakos (2018).
 

We extend many thanks to Ben Smith for his contributions to the session and this article.