History demonstrates that dominance over seemingly mundane but critical resources is a foundational element of national power. The Roman Empire's control of salt and 19th-century America's pursuit of guano (bird fertilizer) laid the groundwork for their military and economic dominance.
China achieved its near-monopoly on rare earths not by chance, but through a long-term state-sponsored strategy. This involved providing capital to key firms, funding overseas acquisitions, banning foreign ownership of domestic mines, and consolidating the industry to control global prices.
America's vulnerability in the rare earths supply chain stems from internal failures, not a lack of domestic resources. A 29-year average for mining permits, cuts to research funding, and alienating allies have created a strategic dependency that could have been avoided.
The core of the U.S. strategic deficit is not a lack of minerals but a bipartisan failure of leadership. Both public and private sectors are unwilling to make the long-term strategic investments necessary for national security if they don't yield immediate profits.