Inside the Global Struggle Over Rare Earths
source: Venetia Rainey, The Telegraph
date originally published: 20 October 2025 5:37pm BST
Here’s a sobering reality: China could bring Western militaries to its knees — without firing a single shot. The weapon? Rare earth minerals. These hidden elements power everything from fighter jets and submarines to missiles and drones. If Beijing pulled the plug tomorrow, Western stockpiles would run dry within weeks — and rebuilding them wouldn’t be easy.
Now, with China tightening export controls and [with regard to the USA] Trump hitting back with 100% tariffs, the global standoff is escalating fast.
This week on Battle Lines [streamed interview], Samuel Olsen from Sibylline and Neha Mukherjee from Benchmark Minerals expose the fight beneath the surface — the battle for the world’s rare earths.
Listen to the full interview on Spotify below:
