In 2026, the United States and China are advancing competing strategies to secure critical minerals supply chains and strengthen their positions in the evolving international order. This article explores the key developments, policy initiatives, and strategic trends driving the critical minerals race, highlighting how resource nationalism is becoming an important determinant of national power and geopolitical leverage.
China’s dominating influence of the global critical mineral markets poses a pressing threat to international supply chains. These minerals are vital for advanced technologies, from semiconductors to renewable energy. With a global energy transition reliant on critical minerals, their increased demand has provided Beijing a whip hand to utilise in other geopolitical spheres.
The term ‘Resource curse’ refers to the failure that many countries that are resource-rich face. This means that these countries do not fully benefit from their natural resource wealth. In this article, we look at how Botswana, a natural resource-rich country is an exception to the resource curse.
