From Mines to Missiles

Question: How can Europe strengthen its position in the field of rare-earth elements (REEs)? Onshoring, allied shoring, and nearshoring, underpinned by suitable EU-level mechanisms, are best conceptualised not as rival strategies but as complementary and mutually reinforcing tools. Europe’s dependence on REEs supply chains constitutes a vulnerability that necessitates a sustained and pragmatic effort to reduce dependency in order to safeguard its defence credibility and industrial resilience.