Defense Monitor

Europe Struggling to Draw up Critical Minerals Battle Plan

The continent has at times been slow to support the extraction and refinement of certain materials that are crucial for the defense industry. China and the US, meanwhile, are sprinting ahead.
Mines like this one in Slovakia could be the light at the end of the tunnel for Europe as governments search for sources of minerals critical to their defense industries.Photographer: Milan Jaros/Bloomberg
Lock
This article is for subscribers only.

Welcome back to Bloomberg’s Defense Monitor, a weekly rundown on the companies, geopolitics and finances of the future battlefield. Sign up now if you’re not already on the list.

Bottom line up front: Strait of Hormuz is still closed, negotiations seem defined by leaks and social media posts, and the occasional projectile is hitting ships in the Gulf region.