Gracelin Baskaran

Director, Critical Minerals Security Program
5Baskaran

Dr. Gracelin Baskaran is director of the Critical Minerals Security Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. She is a mining economist and has spent over a decade working on critical minerals globally. She began her career in South Africa’s platinum belt and later spent five years at the World Bank in South Africa, where she coauthored the book Africa’s Resource Future: Harnessing Natural Resources for Economic Transformation during the Low-Carbon Transition. She recently published a policy playbook, Critical Minerals and the Future of the United States Economy, and is now writing a book on an international strategy for critical minerals engagement for the United States. Dr. Baskaran is also an adjunct associate professor at Georgetown University, where she teaches critical minerals in the Center for Security Studies. She was a Fulbright Scholar and has held positions at the University of Cambridge, the University of London, and the University of Cape Town. Dr. Baskaran has been cited as an expert in The Economist, Financial Times, the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, Fox, CNN, Bloomberg, and BBC, and regularly appears on television. She has authored more than 200 policy reports, white papers, and op-eds. In 2025, Mining Journal ranked Dr. Baskaran No. 8 on its “Top 50 Most Influential” list—the only woman in the top 12. She regularly speaks at international conferences and policymaker forums and has testified before the U.S. Congress. She holds a PhD from the University of Cambridge.

Programs & Projects

Areas of Expertise

Gracelin Baskaran's Reports

Photo: Cheng Xin/Getty Images

Photo: Cheng Xin/Getty Images

Rare Earth Export Restrictions One Year Later

China’s 2025 rare earth export restrictions exposed a critical U.S. national security vulnerability. Washington responded with billions in financing and global partnerships. One year on, we assess the response—and how far the United States still is from true resilience.

Brief by Gracelin Baskaran and Meredith Schwartz — April 27, 2026

Gracelin Baskaran's Analysis

Photo: 3dmitry/Adobe Stock

Photo: 3dmitry/Adobe Stock

Keeping Aluminum in Allied Hands: The Stakes of Alcoa’s South Africa Bet

Alcoa has made the largest U.S. mining supply chain investment in South Africa in years. Whether it marks the beginning of a new wave of Western investment will depend on South Africa’s policy choices—and its ability to compete for strategic mining capital.

Commentary by Gracelin Baskaran — July 8, 2026

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Executive Education

Global Foresight: Geopolitical Risk and Scenario Planning

Global Foresight: Geopolitical Risk and Scenario Planning is Washington’s premier executive certificate program for mid-to senior-level professionals responsible for helping their organizations navigate geopolitical uncertainty and prepare resilient long-term strategies.

Course Date: October 26, 2026
Registration Closes: October 16, 2026

Keeping Aluminum in Allied Hands: The Stakes of Alcoa’s South Africa Bet

Alcoa has made the largest U.S. mining supply chain investment in South Africa in years. Whether it marks the beginning of a new wave of Western investment will depend on South Africa’s policy choices—and its ability to compete for strategic mining capital.

Commentary by Gracelin Baskaran — July 8, 2026

G7 Critical Minerals Ambitions and Iran's Natural Resources

As G7 leaders discussed critical minerals coordination and strategies to de-risk supply chains, a U.S.-Iran deal opens the possibility for investment in Iran’s untapped copper as a new frontier for critical mineral investment.

Critical Questions by Gracelin Baskaran and Meredith Schwartz — June 18, 2026

Audio Briefs

G7 Critical Minerals Ambitions and Iran's Natural Resources

An audio version of "⁠G7 Critical Minerals Ambitions and Iran's Natural Resources⁠," a new critical question by CSIS’s Gracelin Baskaran and Meredith Schwartz. This audio was generated with text-to-speech by Eleven Labs.

Podcast Episode by Gracelin Baskaran and Meredith Schwartz — June 18, 2026

Audio Briefs
Audio Briefs

Why the West Keeps Losing Critical Mineral Assets to China

An audio version of "⁠Why the West Keeps Losing Critical Mineral Assets to China⁠," a new commentary by CSIS’s Gracelin Baskaran. This audio was generated with text-to-speech by Eleven Labs. 

Podcast Episode by Gracelin Baskaran — June 2, 2026

Audio Briefs

Why the West Keeps Losing Critical Mineral Assets to China

China is winning the race for critical minerals long before mines enter production. As Chinese firms acquire strategic mineral assets worldwide, the United States and its allies need new tools to identify, protect, and compete for ownership of future supply.

Commentary by Gracelin Baskaran — June 2, 2026

Rare Earth Export Restrictions One Year Later

China’s 2025 rare earth export restrictions exposed a critical U.S. national security vulnerability. Washington responded with billions in financing and global partnerships. One year on, we assess the response—and how far the United States still is from true resilience.

Brief by Gracelin Baskaran and Meredith Schwartz — April 27, 2026

Minerals Diplomacy Meets Market Reality: The Case of Pakistan

Pakistan’s mineral resources offer long-term potential for diversifying supply chains. However, security risks, weak institutions, and structural constraints are foundational challenges that increase risk exposure for any U.S.–Pakistan minerals partnership.

Report by Meredith Schwartz and Gracelin Baskaran — April 15, 2026

Audio Briefs

Winning the Minerals Race Requires Building Demand, Not Just Supply

An audio version of “⁠Winning the Minerals Race Requires Building Demand, Not Just Supply⁠,” a new Commentary by CSIS’s Gracelin Baskaran. This audio was generated with text-to-speech by Eleven Labs.

Podcast Episode by Gracelin Baskaran — April 3, 2026

Audio Briefs

Winning the Minerals Race Requires Building Demand, Not Just Supply

Minerals security is not just a supply challenge; it is a demand one. China built dominance by linking mines to manufacturing and driving demand through firms like BYD. The United States needs bold demand-side policy and real incentives to source from allies and unlock investment.

Commentary by Gracelin Baskaran — April 3, 2026