The challenge of rare earths

The 17 chemical elements known as rare earths possess magnetic, optical, and electrical properties that make them crucial for fiber optics, displays, and electronic devices in general. They are used to make radars and sensors, rechargeable batteries, satellites, drones, computers, mobile phones, speakers, telescopes, and even medical devices. In an increasingly technological society trying to shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy, these materials are becoming increasingly necessary. Seemingly simple components such as the magnets in hard drives, speakers, and most electric motors are made with these rare earths.

China is the world's leading power in the extraction of these chemical elements and other minerals critical to industry. And it has also become the leading power when it comes to refining them for use, in complex processes that involve toxic substances and environmental hazards. It has also taken advantage of this to become the leading producer of many components, such as the small magnets mentioned above, for example. China dominates the rare earth sector and is taking advantage of the opportunity to reinforce its increasingly evident leadership in electronics manufacturing.

Despite Donald Trump's announcements, promises, and gestures, the United States remains deeply dependent on China for these chemical elements. That's why the agreement with Ukraine for the extraction of rare earths was so interesting to them: Ukraine has 5% of the world's mineral resources and reserves of 22 of the 34 minerals that the European Union considers critical. But a large part of these deposits are now in areas controlled by Russia. This dependence also leads Trump to look covetously toward Greenland and Canada. And he even dares to make expansionist proclamations that recall too many eras we thought were over.

In countries like Congo and Myanmar, critical chemical elements are also fuel for armed conflicts. In Colombia, drug traffickers have entered the mining business. In places like Malaysia and Madagascar, and even in Sweden, there are protests and ecological and social conflicts related to the extraction and processing of these materials. They are the dark corner of the global technological race.

In Europe, we cannot turn a blind eye. While the world's major powers move their pieces on the geopolitical board to secure the supply, control, or even monopoly of rare earths and other critical minerals, we must face the situation responsibly. This does not mean skipping all environmental control and protection measures, as other powers do. It means not shying away from the problem; it means seeking a coordinated way to supply ourselves, to reach international agreements with producing countries, to extract and exploit these materials safely, and to boost research and development, obviously, to find alternatives to these elements.