Reshoring the rare earth mineral supply chain

As someone who fled Ukraine with my mother to escape Soviet oppression, I have witnessed firsthand the resilience, spirit, and untapped potential of the Ukrainian people. As war continues to ravage the country, global attention is rightly focused on human suffering and the geopolitical stakes. However, another urgent problem has been largely overlooked: the disruption of rare earth material supply chains, a critical vulnerability that threatens U.S. national security .

Rare earth elements are the backbone of modern defense technologies, renewable energy systems, and advanced electronics. These elements are becoming increasingly scarce, and the conflict in Ukraine is making it worse.

Ukraine holds Europe’s largest recoverable supply of these critical materials, along with substantial lithium reserves valued between $3 trillion and $11.5 trillion. Many of these resources, including beryllium and niobium, are located in areas currently under Russian control or near conflict zones, such as Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk, and Kirovohrad.

These deposits could have positioned Ukraine as a key player in the global energy arena, transforming it into an economic powerhouse. Instead, they have become a tragic curse, fueling conflict and devastation rather than prosperity.

For the United States, the consequences are clear: Our national security and technological superiority are heavily dependent on rare earth materials.

As the conflict in Ukraine continues to disrupt these supply chains, we must confront the sobering reality that our access to these essential resources is under threat. Without action, this shortage could undermine national security, slow technological advancement, and stall efforts to build renewable energy infrastructure.

So why does this matter? Ukraine is a leading producer of gallium . The self-driving cars and iPhone Ultras that so many Americans use today can not be produced without it. This mineral is the very foundation of America’s semiconductor supply chain.

Ukraine also holds vast, confirmed deposits of beryllium — an element critical to the survival of nuclear power, rockets to space, military defense capabilities, and acoustic and electronic industries (think sonar) — as well as uranium , which is indispensable to our power grid and the military Triad. Zirconium and apatite , essential for everyday medical hospital needs, are also at risk.

Washington should take bold and immediate action to ramp up domestic mining and production, including in the Mountain Pass mine in California.

However, several known rare earth deposits in Wyoming, Alaska, and Texas remain untapped due to opposition from environmentalists purporting support for clean energy. Government can greenlight permitting reform and provide incentives, such as grants and tax breaks, to encourage private companies to explore and develop these resources.

As it stands, domestic mining projects, if they’re approved, can be delayed seven to 10 years because of permitting red tape. While Congress and the Biden administration have made attempts to address this, real leadership is needed to cut through the bureaucratic red tape that delays critical projects.

We must also invest in domestic refining and processing facilities. Currently, most rare earth refining occurs abroad, primarily in China , which completes 70% of rare earth ore extraction and 90% of rare earth ore processing. To reduce our dependence on foreign refining capabilities, we must build new processing plants or reopen those that have been shuttered, creating a fully domestic supply chain from the mines to the finished product.

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Finally, the U.S. should consider creating a strategic reserve of rare earth materials, similar to the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. A national stockpile would serve as a buffer against future supply chain disruptions, ensuring access to these vital elements when they are needed most.

Ignoring the risks of rare earth shortages would be a serious mistake with far-reaching consequences. Inaction now endangers not just Ukraine but our own security. This is not a Republican or Democratic problem. It is a vital national security matter. Any future administration should see room for bipartisan action.

Karina Lipsman is a national security expert and visiting fellow at Independent Women’s Forum (iwf.org). She was born and raised in Soviet Ukraine and spent 14 years in the U.S. DoD and intelligence community.