The United States is locked in a battle for supremacy with China and Russia that takes many forms. The constant competition has resulted in the sides looking to gain an advantage in nontraditional battlefields. In space, a previous gentleman’s agreement on warfare no longer holds sway, while there is a constant fight for one-upmanship in the Arctic and in the race to dominate critical minerals. This Washington Examiner series, The Next Frontier, will investigate this existential struggle. Part 3 is on critical minerals.
A new administration has handed the United States the opportunity to catch up in its ever-intensifying trade war with China over critical earth minerals such as lithium, graphite, and cobalt that are foundational for the energy industry and national security.
