Rare earth minerals play a vital role in the global economy, giving a strategic advantage to countries that control these resources. Access to these minerals has become a critical factor in U.S.-Ukraine relations, as former U.S. President Donald Trump reportedly linked American military aid to securing access to Ukraine’s mineral wealth.

Ukraine possesses significant deposits of key minerals such as lithium and titanium. Titanium, a lightweight and corrosion-resistant metal, is widely used in aircraft manufacturing, surgical instruments, and chemical processing equipment. Despite being largely untapped, these resources have drawn considerable interest from the U.S., with Trump proposing access to Ukraine’s minerals in exchange for continued military assistance. Last week, this proposal was presented to Ukrainian officials, offering American companies a 50% stake in Ukraine’s rare earth minerals as compensation for past and future U.S. military support.

Rare earth elements are a group of 17 chemically similar elements found in the Earth's crust, known for their unique properties. They are essential for modern technologies, including smartphones, missile guidance systems, and electric vehicles. The increasing reliance on rare earth minerals has led to a global scramble for control over these critical resources.

The competition for rare earth minerals has fueled geopolitical conflicts. In Central Africa, disputes over mineral wealth have already led to significant unrest. Some analysts suggest that Trump's previous interest in purchasing Greenland was partly driven by the island’s rich deposits of rare earth elements.

Despite their name, rare earth minerals are not actually rare. They are relatively abundant but are often found in low concentrations, making extraction a costly and complex process. Due to geological factors, certain regions have more favorable conditions for mining. Northern and southern Africa, as well as the western coast of South America, are known to have substantial deposits of these minerals.

A map published by Newsweek, based on data from the U.S. Geological Survey, highlights the global distribution of rare earth deposits. Notable regions with high concentrations include Morocco, South Africa, and Greenland. However, China remains the dominant force in the rare earth industry, with an estimated 44 million metric tons of reserves, making it the world's top producer.

With rising global demand for rare earth minerals, geopolitical tensions over resource control are expected to intensify. The outcome of negotiations between Ukraine and the U.S. could set a precedent for how rare earth resources shape international power dynamics in the years to come.