As long as the device you’re reading this article on looks okay and continues to function, you probably don’t give it much thought. However, the US and China, the two largest economies in the world, are engaged in a growing battle over the factors that drive and manage it, with African nations at the center of the conflict.
Critical minerals and metals, such as lithium, rare earths, cobalt, and tungsten, are abundant on the African continent and are essential to the production and operation of our personal technology. These materials are also necessary for everything from missile systems to AI data centers and electric cars.
China has traditionally dominated the world market for essential metals and minerals. Due to substantial investments in foreign mining enterprises, especially in Africa, it has substantial domestic reserves and access to supplies from abroad.
Beijing has also established itself as a major player in the processing of international supplies, alarming the United States by threatening to reduce exports. African reserves are considered crucial to the US’s efforts to expand its access to vital minerals and metals. This is so true that, according to the most recent yearly data, the US has subtly surpassed China as Africa’s largest foreign direct investor.
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