THE 'BORING' FRONTIER: Why the Next Geopolitical War Will Be Fought Over Rare Earth Magnets, Not Just the Mines
THE 'BORING' FRONTIER: Why the Next Geopolitical War Will Be Fought Over Rare Earth Magnets, Not Just the Mines EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: 1. The Magnet Chokepoint: The global race for Rare Earth Elements (REEs) is not about who can dig the most rocks out of the ground. It is about who can manufacture Rare Earth Magnets—specifically Neodymium Iron Boron (NdFeB) magnets. These are the most powerful permanent magnets on Earth and are the invisible engine of the modern economy. 2. The Chinese Dominance: While the US, Australia, and Myanmar mine significant amounts of rare earth ores, China controls roughly 90% of the global processing and magnet manufacturing capacity. Even if the West mines the ore, it often has to ship it to China to be turned into a usable magnet. 3. The Dual-Use Threat: These magnets are not just for green technology (EVs and wind turbines); they are critical for military hardware, including F-35 fighter jets, guided missiles, and submarines. Relying on a geopolitical...