Average Geniuses

Average Geniuses

Rare Earths, Cobalt, and the Critical Minerals Race

Those numbers are not just economic statistics. They are chokepoints, leverage that could, in a serious conflict or escalating trade dispute, be used to cripple American defense manufacturing, EV production, and advanced semiconductor supply chains faster

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Bala Selvam
Apr 17, 2026
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Rare Earths, Cobalt, and the Critical Minerals Race
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The Dependency We Can't Afford

China currently accounts for over 60% of the world's cobalt and roughly 85% of its rare-earth elements. Those numbers are not just economic statistics. They are chokepoints, leverage that could, in a serious conflict or escalating trade dispute, be used to cripple American defense manufacturing, EV production, and adv…

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