Critical Minerals Security Program
The Critical Minerals Security Program is a groundbreaking initiative providing leadership as the United States races to build the resilient minerals supply chains needed for national, economic, and energy security
The United States cannot preserve its leadership in national security, economic competitiveness, or energy resilience while remaining dependent on foreign adversaries for critical minerals. Securing these resources demands a bold, modern strategy–one that is market-led, environmentally and socially responsible, builds capacity in both production and processing, and works with allies while also forging new geopolitical alliances with resource-rich Global South countries. The Critical Minerals Security Program will build upon CSIS’s longstanding work with policymakers on both sides of the aisle to support market-led efforts to expand production and processing capabilities to improve domestic and global security. With a new paradigm, the United States can enable its diplomats, policymakers, and private sector actors to develop a secure supply chain and meet the mineral needs of the 21st century.
Meet Our Experts
Meet our network of experts, staff, and non-resident affiliates who contribute to our Critical Minerals Security Program's Analysis
Contact Information
- Kessarin Horvath
- Associate Director, Critical Minerals Security Program
- 202.775.7307
- KHorvath@csis.org
MEDIA QUERIES
- Sofia Chavez
- Media Relations Manager, External Relations
- 202.775.7317
- SChavez@csis.org
Featured Analysis
What’s in the New U.S.-Saudi Minerals Agreement?
Critical Questions by Gracelin Baskaran— November 19, 2025
Ten Years of C5+1: U.S.–Central Asia Minerals Cooperation
Commentary by Gracelin Baskaranand Kamal Aubakirov— November 4, 2025
Photo: ipopba/Adobe Stock
Stabilizing Cobalt Markets: A Price Floor for U.S. Minerals Security
U.S. cobalt security is threatened by severe price volatility driven by PRC oversupply, which has pushed Western mines—including the only U.S. cobalt mine—offline. The United States should use a price floor for strategic projects needed for national and economic security.
Brief by Gracelin Baskaranand Meredith Schwartz— December 10, 2025
Six Months Since the U.S.-Ukraine Minerals Deal Was Signed—What Now?
Commentary by Gracelin Baskaran— October 30, 2025
Photo: Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images
Unpacking the U.S.-Australia Critical Minerals Framework Agreement
Critical Questions by Gracelin Baskaranand Kessarin Horvath
Photo: Mike Mareen/Adobe Stock
China’s New Rare Earth and Magnet Restrictions Threaten U.S. Defense Supply Chains
Critical Questions by Gracelin Baskaran
Featured Project
Photo: Collection/Adobe Stock
The Copper Initiative
The Copper Initiative brings together independent analysis, dynamic events, and productive dialogues between government officials, private industry, and subject-matter experts to create policy solutions to meet future copper demand for national security, economic competitiveness and energy resilience
Featured Video Series
Mapping Minerals Diplomacy
Mapping Minerals Diplomacy is an explainer series that brings clarity to the deals, players, and policies shaping the global race for critical minerals.
Featured Report
Photo: adimas/Adobe Stock
Critical Minerals and the Future of the U.S. Economy
Critical minerals play an indispensable role in the modern economy—yet the U.S. mineral supply chain is highly vulnerable. This edited volume offers comprehensive analysis and recommendations to create resilient supply chains for national, economic, and energy security.
Report by Gracelin Baskaranand Duncan Wood— February 10, 2025
In the Media4 of253 results
Silicon Valley Is Racing to Make Critical Minerals—and Blunt China’s Dominance
Gracelin Baskaran cited inThe Wall Street Journal— December 10, 2025
Bloomberg Businessweek Daily: Paramount Gets Hostile
Gracelin Baskaran appearance onBloomberg Businessweek Podcast— December 8, 2025
An Auto Holy Grail: Motors That Don’t Rely on Chinese Rare Earths
Gracelin Baskaran cited inThe New York Times— November 24, 2025
The Failed Crusade to Keep a Rare-Earths Mine Out of China’s Hands
Gracelin Baskaran cited inThe Wall Street Journal— November 22, 2025
AllCritical Minerals Security Program Content
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Driving Critical Minerals Security
Investigate the risks facing U.S. critical minerals security in this one-day course.
Critical Minerals: 2025 Year in Review & Looking Ahead to 2026
Please join the CSIS Critical Minerals Security Program for a Year in Review event, as we reflect on what changed, what endured, and what comes next in the critical minerals landscape.
Event— December 15, 2025
Deploying Critical Minerals Price Support Mechanisms
Join the CSIS Critical Minerals Security Program for an event on deploying critical minerals price support mechanisms.
Event— December 11, 2025
Stabilizing Cobalt Markets: A Price Floor for U.S. Minerals Security
U.S. cobalt security is threatened by severe price volatility driven by PRC oversupply, which has pushed Western mines—including the only U.S. cobalt mine—offline. The United States should use a price floor for strategic projects needed for national and economic security.
Brief by Gracelin Baskaranand Meredith Schwartz— December 10, 2025
What’s in the New U.S.-Saudi Minerals Agreement?
An audio version of “What’s in the New U.S.-Saudi Minerals Agreement?,” a new Critical Questions by CSIS’s Gracelin Baskaran. This audio was generated with text-to-speech by Eleven Labs.
Podcast Episode by Gracelin Baskaran— November 19, 2025
What’s in the New U.S.-Saudi Minerals Agreement?
The U.S.-Saudi minerals partnership marks a realignment in global supply chains—pairing Saudi Arabia’s vast heavy rare earth reserves with significant U.S. investment to build a mine-to-magnet pathway that directly reduces China’s leverage and strengthens allied security.
Critical Questions by Gracelin Baskaran— November 19, 2025
Ten Years of C5+1: U.S.–Central Asia Minerals Cooperation
Amid a changing donor landscape, the United States has an opportunity to realign and leverage its full range of financing tools to promote economic growth abroad while safeguarding its national security interests.
Commentary by Gracelin Baskaranand Kamal Aubakirov— November 4, 2025
Ten Years of C5+1: U.S.–Central Asia Minerals Cooperation
An audio version of "Ten Years of C5+1: U.S.–Central Asia Minerals Cooperation," a new Commentary by CSIS's Gracelin Baskaran and Kamal Aubakirov. This audio was generated with text-to-speech by Eleven Labs.
Podcast Episode by Gracelin Baskaranand Kamal Aubakirov— November 4, 2025
Ahead of APEC, Trump Signs Flurry of Bilateral Minerals Agreements on Asia Tour
An audio version of "Ahead of APEC, Trump Signs Flurry of Bilateral Minerals Agreements on Asia Tour," a new Critical Questions by CSIS's Gracelin Baskaran and Meredith Schwartz. This audio was generated with text-to-speech by Eleven Labs.
Podcast Episode by Gracelin Baskaranand Meredith Schwartz— October 31, 2025
Ahead of APEC, Trump Signs Flurry of Bilateral Minerals Agreements on Asia Tour
Leading up to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in South Korea, President Trump signed new bilateral minerals agreements between the United States and Australia, Japan, Malaysia, and Thailand, marking an escalation in minerals diversification efforts.
Critical Questions by Gracelin Baskaranand Meredith Schwartz— October 31, 2025
