The role of critical mineral resources in the construction of new smart strategic weapons and its impact on the emergence of geopolitical competition
Authors
Department of Political Geography, Faculty of Geography, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
Abstract
Background and Objective:
The increasing demand for artificial intelligence hardware and advanced strategic weapons has intensified global dependence on critical minerals such as gallium, neodymium, lithium, and cobalt. This growing reliance has fueled geopolitical competition over access to these resources. China, as the dominant supplier, plays a leading role, while the United States and the European Union have sought to reduce their dependence by diversifying supply chains and sourcing from allied nations.
Methodology:
This applied research employs a descriptive-analytical approach, relying on Persian and English academic sources and reputable websites. Figma software was also used for visual representations.
Findings:
The smartification of military technologies and the advancement of strategic weapon components are two major factors driving increased demand for critical minerals. This trend has escalated geopolitical rivalries, particularly between China and the U.S.
Conclusion:
Intelligentization, as an inevitable trend, has established itself as a strategic imperative in the development of advanced strategic weaponry aimed at achieving superiority on future battlefields. This trajectory has intensified the growing demand for the production of AI-related hardware, which is critically dependent on vital mineral resources. Consequently, the geopolitical competition over access to and control of these resources has entered a more complex phase, leading to a reconfiguration of global supply chains for advanced technologies.
The increasing demand for artificial intelligence hardware and advanced strategic weapons has intensified global dependence on critical minerals such as gallium, neodymium, lithium, and cobalt. This growing reliance has fueled geopolitical competition over access to these resources. China, as the dominant supplier, plays a leading role, while the United States and the European Union have sought to reduce their dependence by diversifying supply chains and sourcing from allied nations.
Methodology:
This applied research employs a descriptive-analytical approach, relying on Persian and English academic sources and reputable websites. Figma software was also used for visual representations.
Findings:
The smartification of military technologies and the advancement of strategic weapon components are two major factors driving increased demand for critical minerals. This trend has escalated geopolitical rivalries, particularly between China and the U.S.
Conclusion:
Intelligentization, as an inevitable trend, has established itself as a strategic imperative in the development of advanced strategic weaponry aimed at achieving superiority on future battlefields. This trajectory has intensified the growing demand for the production of AI-related hardware, which is critically dependent on vital mineral resources. Consequently, the geopolitical competition over access to and control of these resources has entered a more complex phase, leading to a reconfiguration of global supply chains for advanced technologies.
Keywords
