Critical Minerals

The Critical Minerals Security Program aims to provide policy and thought leadership as the United States races to build the resilient minerals supply chains needed for national, economic, and energy security.

Latest Analysis

Photo: Farah Nosh/Getty Images

Photo: Farah Nosh/Getty Images

The Geostrategic Importance of Alaska to the U.S.-Japan Alliance

Alaska’s geostrategic importance to the U.S.-Japan alliance is growing. Japan Chair Adjunct Fellow Shoichi Itoh analyzes how Alaska supports the economic security of both countries against the backdrop of great power rivalry.

Commentary by Shoichi Itoh — May 12, 2025

See all analysis on Critical Minerals

Past Events

See all events on Critical Minerals

Related Programs

Experts

All Critical Minerals Content

Filter by

61 - 70 of 87 results

Why Responsible Mining Is a Human Rights Imperative

The UDHR can, and should, be a guiding force for the mining industry to improve its practices by preventing negative health and environmental consequences, ensuring food security, and protecting cultural heritage and biodiversity.

Commentary by Gracelin Baskaran — November 29, 2023

A Western Hemisphere Minerals Strategy for the Energy Transition

CSIS Americas deputy director and senior fellow Christopher Hernandez-Roy, Nate Laske, and Henry Ziemer explore the opportunities present in the Western Hemisphere to meet surging demand for critical minerals and facilitate the global energy transition.

Commentary by Christopher Hernandez-Roy, Nathaniel Laske, and Henry Ziemer — November 16, 2023

Responsible Mining with Rohitesh Dhawan

This week, Rohitesh Dhawan talks with Gracelin Baskaran about responsible mining and the challenges faced by the global mining industry.

Transcript — November 13, 2023

A Pathway to Responsible Mining in Indian Country

As the United States seeks to build out critical minerals mining at home, there is an opportunity for a new age of equitable mining in partnership with Indigenous communities, involving them in decisions and creating economic opportunities that respect their sovereignty.

Commentary by Daniel Cardenas, Rick Tallman, Brad Handler, and Morgan Bazilian — November 9, 2023

China’s New Graphite Restrictions

On October 20, in response to the widened U.S. semiconductor controls, China announced a new set of export restrictions on certain graphite products, which are key for EV battery manufacturing.

Commentary by Emily Benson and Thibault Denamiel — October 23, 2023

A Window of Opportunity to Build Critical Mineral Security in Africa

African countries are becoming weary of China’s approach to critical minerals engagement, including resource-backed loans, infrastructure-for-resource swaps, and poor human rights records. This opens an important window of opportunity for the United States.

Commentary by Gracelin Baskaran — October 10, 2023

Summer Wrap Up

This week, CSIS experts Joseph Majkut, Ben Cahill, and Gracelin Baskaran cover recent developments in global oil markets, BRICS expansion, critical minerals, and the geopolitics of energy.  

Transcript — September 5, 2023