25th Parliamentary Intelligence-Security Forum – Strategic Minerals

Professor Miloš Ivković underscored the pivotal role of critical minerals in contemporary geopolitical dynamics, highlighting the intricate balance between dependency and cooperation. He cautioned that resources classified as “critical” are frequently scarce and concentrated, historically resulting in conflict rather than collaboration. While supporting U.S. initiatives to restrict cobalt imports associated with child labor, he acknowledged that such measures could disrupt global battery markets, emphasizing the multifaceted nature of harmonizing ethical considerations, supply chain management, and economic stability.

Professor Ivković posited that the critical mineral issue transcends extraction, encompassing refining and advanced production domains where Western economies lack sufficient capacity, rendering them susceptible to vulnerability. He emphasized that a significant portion of the global critical mineral supply chain is controlled by the Chinese Communist Party, fostering strategic dependency. Concurrently, African nations aspire to equitable participation in the value chain to foster development, eradicate child labor, and invest in sustainable growth. Professor Ivković concluded that sustainable cooperation between Western nations and African partners rather than conflict represents the sole viable path to secure, ethical, and resilient critical mineral supply chains.