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I. Introduction to the Issue

Critical minerals are vital to global supply chains, with their definitions and lists adjusted based on national strategies, technological advancements, and shifts in supply and demand. The U.S. defines critical minerals from economic and national security perspectives, the EU focuses on "critical raw materials," while Russia adopts the concept of "strategic minerals." The supply chains for critical minerals are susceptible to disruptions from geopolitical tensions, economic competition, and other factors. Since the 21st century, global supply chains have become more sensitive to changes in the international strategic environment, with international strategic competition driving the reshaping of critical mineral supply chains. The five Central Asian countries were once overlooked in global critical mineral supply chains, but as the U.S. and Europe seek alternative suppliers to reduce reliance on Russia and China, the region has gradually gained attention. The U.S. and EU’s strategic engagement with Central Asia’s critical minerals is elevating the region’s role in supply chains. Cooperation between the U.S. and Central Asian countries across various sectors marks a shift in America’s Central Asia strategy, while the EU has also intensified its engagement, particularly in rare earth exploration and production. Foreign scholars argue that major powers’ policies on Central Asia’s critical minerals have entered a phase of strategic competition, positioning the region as a key player in global supply chain restructuring. Domestic research has largely focused on consumer-country policy evolution and macro-level strategic analysis, with limited attention to major powers’ strategic dynamics in Central Asia and their implications. China holds significant influence in the critical minerals sector, and Central Asia plays a crucial role in China’s regional security and the Belt and Road Initiative. This paper evaluates the U.S. and EU’s cooperative strategies and policy considerations in Central Asia, explores their motivations and impacts, and provides a practical case study for understanding the evolution and implementation of critical mineral policies amid global supply chain restructuring.

II. U.S. and EU Strategic Engagement in Central Asia’s Critical Minerals

In the restructuring of global critical mineral supply chains, Central Asia’s strategic importance is increasingly prominent, making it a focal region for U.S. and EU competition. The U.S. and EU are strengthening institutional ties with Central Asian countries through cooperative dialogue mechanisms and platforms. The U.S. has expanded its cooperation agenda with Central Asia via the "C5+1" mechanism, with the Biden administration proposing a critical minerals dialogue to elevate cooperation to the head-of-state level. The EU has also bolstered its "C5+1" engagement with Central Asia, signing the "Declaration on Cooperation in Critical Mineral Resources" and launching the "Global Gateway" investment plan to support critical mineral projects.

The U.S. and EU have established a systematic investment framework for critical minerals in Central Asia, involving multiple government and corporate levels. Governments are fostering partnerships and agreements to facilitate corporate collaboration, with Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan as key targets. U.S. and European firms have signed cooperation agreements with Central Asian governments to advance projects. Enterprises from both sides are also engaging in joint mineral exploration and investment, alleviating supply chain anxieties.

The U.S. and EU’s policies highlight their prioritization of critical mineral supply chains in Central Asia, aiming to establish alternative nodes and elevate the region’s role in global supply chains. By actively building cooperative mechanisms, they are deepening systemic engagement in Central Asia’s critical mineral sector, enhancing institutional linkages, and fostering stakeholder interactions to ensure mineral security, promote economic diplomacy, and provide alternatives to cooperation with Russia and China.

III. Motivations Behind U.S. and EU Focus on Central Asia’s Critical Minerals

This section examines the multiple drivers behind the growing U.S. and EU interest in Central Asia’s critical minerals. The region’s abundant reserves of rare earths, uranium, manganese, and other critical minerals are gaining global supply chain significance. High external dependency and supply chain security concerns are pushing the U.S. and EU to seek Central Asian partnerships to diversify supply chains and reduce reliance on China. Central Asian countries are also adjusting policies to align with U.S. and EU cooperation, enacting legislation and incentives to attract foreign investment in mineral development. The geopolitical shift in global supply chains—from efficiency and cost to security and reliability—has further enabled Central Asia to pursue diversified policies. The U.S. and EU’s expanding engagement aims to reshape global critical mineral supply chains, while Central Asian nations leverage external partnerships to balance Russian influence and ensure regional socioeconomic development.

IV. Impacts of U.S. and EU Critical Mineral Policies in Central Asia

U.S. and EU policies are amplifying Central Asia’s role in global supply chain restructuring, with significant implications for the region’s foreign policy, geopolitics, and economic growth, while also introducing new risks and challenges. First, critical mineral extraction poses ecological risks and social issues, including environmental degradation, economic disparities, and overdependence on external powers, hindering regional integration. Second, it intensifies great-power competition in Central Asia, where countries adopt "multi-balancing" diplomacy to avoid alignment with any bloc while leveraging competition for national gain. Third, it destabilizes global critical mineral supply chains. The U.S. and EU’s resource extraction prioritizes their own security, with investments often lacking comprehensiveness and sustainability, failing to enhance local value-added production and instead undermining supply chain stability. Their push to replace China’s role faces logistical and market barriers, increasing supply chain fragility. These policies complicate Central Asia’s development trajectory, heighten geopolitical rivalries, and introduce uncertainties, potentially making the region a volatile node in global supply chains.

V. Conclusion

Against the backdrop of global supply chain restructuring, U.S. and EU reliance on critical mineral imports has sparked security anxieties, driving efforts to reconfigure supply chains. Central Asia, rich in resources, seeks to capitalize on its reserves to modernize economies and elevate international standing. U.S. and EU cooperation with the region reflects broader great-power resource competition and supply chain realignment, with implications for future geopolitical influence and technological leadership. The U.S. and EU aim to integrate Central Asia into an allied supply chain system excluding Russia and China, potentially challenging China’s supply chain position and regional security. In contrast, China’s cooperation with Central Asia is built on long-term trust and high-level connectivity, fostering a stable, mutually beneficial, and sustainable model. During Trump’s potential second term, U.S.-EU divergence on critical mineral diversification may widen, with the EU emphasizing "de-risking" and Trump prioritizing commercial interests and investment security. While the U.S. and EU enhance their Central Asian presence through multilateral mechanisms, investments, and public-private partnerships, their goal of establishing an exclusive critical mineral supply chain remains elusive. The evolution of global critical mineral supply chains warrants continued observation.

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