Countries are racing to secure the critical minerals and rare earths needed to make vital products.
In October 2025, the US signed a critical minerals deal with Australia, at which Trump declared: "In about a year from now, we'll have so much critical mineral and rare earths that you won't know what to do with them."
β Source: BBC Environment (https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cj6wwx7zxd9o)