EU slips further behind US in race for critical minerals

The European Union is falling behind both the United States and China in securing essential minerals crucial for defense and green technology advancements. This competition highlights the strategic importance of materials like lithium, cobalt, and nickel, which are pivotal for everything from electric vehicle batteries to advanced defense systems. The EU's lag suggests it might struggle to maintain technological and economic leadership if it doesn't ramp up its efforts to secure these critical resources. This situation underscores the urgent need for the EU to bolster its supply chain resilience and innovation capacity.