Summary:
- Rare earth elements are a group of 17 metals that are essential for many modern technologies, such as smartphones, electric vehicles, and renewable energy systems.
- There is a global competition for control over the rare earth supply chain, with China currently dominating the market and other countries trying to reduce their dependence on Chinese rare earth exports.
- The article discusses the geopolitical tensions and potential conflicts that could arise as countries and companies vie for access to these critical resources.