Critical Minerals Security Program

The Critical Minerals Security Program is a groundbreaking initiative providing leadership as the United States races to build the resilient minerals supply chains needed for national, economic, and energy security

The United States cannot preserve its leadership in national security, economic competitiveness, or energy resilience while remaining dependent on foreign adversaries for critical minerals. Securing these resources demands a bold, modern strategy–one that is market-led, environmentally and socially responsible, builds capacity in both production and processing, and works with allies while also forging new geopolitical alliances with resource-rich Global South countries. The Critical Minerals Security Program will build upon CSIS’s longstanding work with policymakers on both sides of the aisle to support market-led efforts to expand production and processing capabilities to improve domestic and global security. With a new paradigm, the United States can enable its diplomats, policymakers, and private sector actors to develop a secure supply chain and meet the mineral needs of the 21st century.

Meet Our Experts

Meet our network of experts, staff, and non-resident affiliates who contribute to our Critical Minerals Security Program's Analysis

5Baskaran

Contact Information

MEDIA QUERIES

Featured Analysis

Photo: snvv/Adobe Stock

Photo: snvv/Adobe Stock

Winning the Minerals Race Requires Building Demand, Not Just Supply

Minerals security is not just a supply challenge; it is a demand one. China built dominance by linking mines to manufacturing and driving demand through firms like BYD. The United States needs bold demand-side policy and real incentives to source from allies and unlock investment.

Commentary by Gracelin Baskaran — April 3, 2026

See all analysis by Critical Minerals Security Program

Featured Project

Photo: Collection/Adobe Stock

Photo: Collection/Adobe Stock

The Copper Initiative

The Copper Initiative brings together independent analysis, dynamic events, and productive dialogues between government officials, private industry, and subject-matter experts to create policy solutions to meet future copper demand for national security, economic competitiveness and energy resilience

Featured Video Series

Photo: Yuichiro Chino/Getty Images

Mapping Minerals Diplomacy

Mapping Minerals Diplomacy is an explainer series that brings clarity to the deals, players, and policies shaping the global race for critical minerals.

Watch Here

Featured Report

Photo: adimas/Adobe Stock

Photo: adimas/Adobe Stock

Critical Minerals and the Future of the U.S. Economy

Critical minerals play an indispensable role in the modern economy—yet the U.S. mineral supply chain is highly vulnerable. This edited volume offers comprehensive analysis and recommendations to create resilient supply chains for national, economic, and energy security.

Report by Gracelin Baskaran and Duncan Wood — February 10, 2025

In the Media 4 of 281 results

Show More

All Critical Minerals Security Program Content

Filter by

1 - 10 of 169 results
Audio Briefs

Winning the Minerals Race Requires Building Demand, Not Just Supply

An audio version of “⁠Winning the Minerals Race Requires Building Demand, Not Just Supply⁠,” a new Commentary by CSIS’s Gracelin Baskaran. This audio was generated with text-to-speech by Eleven Labs.

Podcast Episode by Gracelin Baskaran — April 3, 2026

Audio Briefs

Winning the Minerals Race Requires Building Demand, Not Just Supply

Minerals security is not just a supply challenge; it is a demand one. China built dominance by linking mines to manufacturing and driving demand through firms like BYD. The United States needs bold demand-side policy and real incentives to source from allies and unlock investment.

Commentary by Gracelin Baskaran — April 3, 2026

Using Minerals and Energy to Rebuild the U.S.-South Africa Relationship

Minerals have been the backbone of the U.S.–South Africa relationship for over a century. South Africa is a mineral production and processing powerhouse, but rising energy costs are pushing capacity to China. If it declines, U.S. dependence on China and Russia deepens.

Brief by Gracelin Baskaran — March 18, 2026

Industrial Policy Is Back—And Minerals Are at the Center

The United States has revived its industrial policy playbook to support critical minerals through price floors, stockpiles, and equity. But in a sector shaped by geology, cost curves, and market risk, durable security depends on commercial viability—not just public capital.

Critical Questions by Gracelin Baskaran and Meredith Schwartz — February 26, 2026

Critical Minerals Ministerial Introduces New International Cooperation Strategy

At the inaugural Critical Minerals Ministerial, 55 foreign ministers convened to advance minerals security through new bilateral and plurilateral frameworks, marking a shift toward coordinated, market-shaping efforts to stabilize prices and strengthen allied supply chains.

Critical Questions by Gracelin Baskaran and Meredith Schwartz — February 13, 2026

Project Vault: A Minerals Security Backstop

Project Vault is a $12 billion EXIM-backed critical minerals stockpile. OEMs commit capital in exchange for access during supply chain disruptions, creating an insurance-style buffer that strengthens industrial resilience and economic security.

Critical Questions by Gracelin Baskaran — February 11, 2026

Audio Briefs

Project Vault: A Minerals Security Backstop

An audio version of "⁠Project Vault: A Minerals Security Backstop⁠," a new Critical Questions by CSIS's Gracelin Baskaran. This audio was generated with text-to-speech by Eleven Labs.

Podcast Episode by Gracelin Baskaran — February 11, 2026

Audio Briefs

Securing Critical Mineral Supply: A Government–Industry Dialogue

Join the CSIS Critical Minerals Security Program virtually for public sessions on financing, investment conditions, supply-chain resilience, and public–private coordination, as part of "Securing Critical Mineral Supply: A Government–Industry Dialogue."

Event — February 3, 2026