Core Insights - Russia's ability to sustain its military operations is fundamentally linked to its unique resource endowments, particularly in rare earth minerals, which has prompted President Putin to issue a strict deadline for a roadmap on rare earth mining and production [1][3] - The urgency in Putin's directive reflects a growing concern about potential external constraints on Russia's access to critical resources, particularly in light of China's previous leverage over the U.S. through rare earth resources [1][3] - Recent military advancements and shifts in geopolitical dynamics, including Trump's changing stance on Ukraine, have bolstered Russia's confidence in its military operations and the strategic importance of rare earth resources [6] Industry Insights - Russia has identified 18 rare earth deposits with a total reserve exceeding 28 million tons, indicating ambitions to leverage these resources similarly to China in geopolitical negotiations with the West [3] - The ongoing military situation suggests that Russia is preparing for a prolonged conflict, which necessitates an increase in rare earth resource extraction to maintain competitiveness against the U.S. and China [6] - Despite its rich reserves, Russia faces challenges in mining and refining technologies, indicating a potential reliance on Chinese technological assistance in the rare earth sector [6]
普京下了死命令,一个月内稀土问题必须有进展,并不是不信任中国
Sou Hu Cai Jing·2025-11-06 11:10