India's race for rare earth minerals
From fighter jets to submarines, the country's external dependence on materials is challenging its self-reliance
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 "Martand Mishra")
 "Representational image (Photo: Shutterstock)")
Representational image (Photo: Shutterstock)
When Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Tianjin on the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping for the 25th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in late August — his first since the deadly Galwan Valley clash of 2020 — it signalled a strategic recalibration amid escalated tariffs imposed on both countries by US President Donald Trump.As the US raises tariffs on Chinese imports, causing ripples across global supply networks, countries are becoming more aware of their strategic vulnerabilities in critical minerals, crucial for a range of defence and civilian applications.Rare earth elements (REEs), a group of 17 elements, have become the
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Martand Mishra
Martand Mishra has started his reporting career with defence coverage. He is a graduate of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication. He enjoys reading books on defence, history and biographies.
 "Martand Mishra")
First Published: Oct 07 2025 | 3:32 PM IST
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