🌍 Rare Earth Elements: A New Front in Global Geopolitics
By Suryavanshi IAS – For UPSC Civil Services Aspirants
🔍 Introduction
Rare Earth Elements (REEs) – often dubbed the "vitamins of modern technology" – are not just chemical substances. They represent the strategic arteries through which the 21st-century economy, clean energy, and defence capabilities flow. As the US-China rare earth détente unfolds amid global supply chain realignment, this subject becomes not just relevant but critical for UPSC aspirants preparing for GS Paper II (International Relations), GS Paper III (Economic Development & Technology), and even Ethics & Essay sections.
📌 Why Are Rare Earth Elements So Important?
Rare Earth Elements refer to 17 elements, including the 15 lanthanides plus scandium and yttrium, all indispensable in:
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Green technologies: Electric Vehicles (EVs), Wind Turbines
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Consumer electronics: Smartphones, LED displays
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Strategic sectors: Missile systems, stealth aircraft, radar, lasers
🧠 Prelims Fact: Neodymium and praseodymium are vital in magnets used in EVs and wind turbines. Europium is used in LEDs. Dysprosium is crucial for defence magnets.
Despite the name, REEs are not rare in quantity, but their processing is environmentally hazardous, expensive, and requires complex extraction techniques.
🌐 The Strategic Chokehold: China’s Dominance
According to the US Geological Survey (USGS):
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China holds ~70% of mining and >90% of global refining capacity.
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Their dominance is due to early investment in infrastructure, not superior reserves.
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Key refining zones include Bayan Obo (Inner Mongolia), Jiangxi, Sichuan, and Fujian.
This control has provided Beijing a powerful geopolitical lever, especially over countries like the U.S., Japan, and EU nations, all heavily dependent on these elements for both civilian and military use.
🧠 Mains Linkage: Discuss how strategic minerals like REEs shape geopolitical relationships in a multipolar world.
🛑 The Flashpoint: U.S.–China Trade Tensions & Rare Earths
On May 12, the U.S. and China reached a temporary deal (Geneva Agreement) that:
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Paused new tariffs for 90 days
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Initiated discussions on REE export frameworks
After extended negotiations in London (June 9–10), the following was achieved:
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China agreed to fast-track export clearance for civilian REEs.
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However, military-grade materials remain restricted.
🧠 UPSC Insight: The U.S. depends on samarium, dysprosium, and terbium for advanced missile, radar, and stealth systems—materials still under Chinese control.
🗺️ The Search for Alternatives: Mapping Global REE Sources
With China’s reliability under question, the U.S. and its allies are diversifying. Key global hotspots include:
| Country | Highlights |
|---|---|
| USA (California) | Mountain Pass mine: 10% global supply, but sends ore to China for refining |
| Greenland | Kvanefjeld Deposit: Could meet 15% global REE demand, but lacks refining units |
| Ukraine | Holds massive lithium, graphite, and REE reserves; war damage is a constraint |
| India | Has potential reserves in Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Jharkhand |
| Australia & Brazil | Mining-friendly policies; active in REE exports |
| African Nations | Emerging players: Madagascar, Tanzania, Burundi, South Africa |
🔁 Sustainable Options: Recycling and Innovation
Recognising the environmental risks and import dependencies, the U.S., Japan, and EU are investing in:
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REE recycling from used electronics and discarded magnets
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R&D in alternatives like nanomaterials, synthetic magnets
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Strategic reserves to counter supply disruptions
India too must scale its efforts through bodies like IREL (India) Limited, and engage in India-Australia-Japan trilateral cooperation on critical minerals.
⚖️ Public Policy & India’s Strategic Response
India must view REEs not just as resources, but as strategic assets. Recommendations:
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Incentivise domestic exploration: Encourage private-public partnerships with strict environmental protocols.
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Set up dedicated refining infrastructure: Reduce dependence on Chinese facilities.
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Strategic REE stockpiling: Like petroleum reserves, India must create Critical Mineral Reserves.
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Deepen Quad partnerships: Especially with Australia and the U.S. under Indo-Pacific supply chain frameworks.
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National Rare Earth Mission: Similar to ISRO or DRDO – focused R&D and capability development.
🧠 Ethics Link: The dilemma of REE mining lies in balancing environmental ethics with national security and technological growth.
📖 UPSC Relevance Summary
| Paper | Area | Linkage |
|---|---|---|
| GS Paper I | Geography | Mapping of REE-rich regions; mineral resources |
| GS Paper II | International Relations | U.S.-China trade diplomacy, Indo-Pacific strategy |
| GS Paper III | Economy, Environment, Technology | Strategic minerals, green energy, rare earth processing challenges |
| Essay Paper | Ethics, Energy Security, Sustainability | Role of REEs in modern conflict and progress |
As the world transitions into a multi-tech order, minerals like rare earths will determine not just economic competitiveness but strategic sovereignty. For India, this is a wake-up call to assert its resource security, invest in processing independence, and integrate itself in global strategic partnerships.
As aspirants, your preparation must include resource geopolitics, energy diplomacy, and mineral-based industrial policy — because tomorrow's power lies beneath the ground.
Keep revising, keep questioning, keep growing.
– Suryavanshi IAS
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