The Future of Critical Minerals and National Security: 2025 CSIS-West Point Conference

This event is by invitation only. Attendance is limited to invited guests, and registration is not open to the general public.
 

The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and the Center for the Study of Civil-Military Operations at the United States Military Academy at West Point will host the second annual Critical Minerals and National Security Conference at West Point on October 8, 2025. The conference will examine the minerals-defense nexus, how minerals diplomacy can support national security amid escalating global tensions, and the role of innovation in meeting minerals security needs.

Securing critical mineral supply chains are pivotal to the success of the modern warfighter. These materials are the building blocks for the aerospace technologies, weapons platforms, and radar systems that protect and defend U.S. interests around the world. Yet, these supply chains face ongoing challenges and remain vulnerable to disruption by foreign adversaries, namely China, with consequences for U.S. economic, technological, and military competitiveness. Meeting today's critical mineral challenges requires mission clarity and a comprehensive strategy. Policymakers are leveraging new tools including U.S. Department of Defense equity, commodity price floors, and bilateral mineral agreements to bolster production at home and increase access abroad. From the Democratic Republic of the Congo, to Saudi Arabia, to Ukraine, the U.S. is engaging in minerals diplomacy like never seen before. The success of this long-term U.S. critical minerals strategy depends on future leaders that understand both the opportunities and the challenges of resource development in high-risk security environments. 

This event is made possible by general funding to CSIS and the CSIS Critical Minerals Security Program.