Rare Earth Elements in National Security Strategies: a Comparative Analysis of US, Japanese and Australian Policies

Abstract

In the face of increasing geopolitical rivalry and energy transition, access to rare earth elements (REEs) has become a key element of national security strategies. These raw materials are essential for modern civilian and military technologies, and their global supply remains highly concentrated, particularly in China. The purpose of this article is to provide a comparative analysis of the national security strategies of three countries – the United States, Japan and Australia – with a particular focus on their approaches to accessing, controlling and securing the supply of REEs. The research problem is to determine how the selected countries – the United States, Japan and Australia – integrate issues of access to rare earths into their national security strategies and what instruments they use to minimize their dependence on China. The analysis shows that, despite their differing roles as importers (US, Japan) and exporters (Australia), all three countries treat REEs as a component of strategic autonomy, taking steps to diversify supply, develop domestic processing technologies and build partnerships with other countries.