Russia is concerned by US, EU rare earth activity in Central Asia

Russia is concerned by U.S. and European Union efforts to secure access to rare earths ​and critical minerals in Central Asia, Deputy Foreign ‌Minister Mikhail Galuzin told Izvestia newspaper.

In an attempt to diversify from China, which dominates rare earths supply chains vital ​for technologies such as electric vehicles, renewable ​energy and defence systems, the G7 nations, including ⁠the U.S. and EU, have been exploring alternative ​markets and support tools to reduce their dependence on Beijing.

Russia ​considers the resource-rich Central Asian nations - Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan - its sphere of interest at a time when ​China has also been increasingly turning its attention ​to the region.

"We are concerned by the intensity with which ‌Washington ⁠is pushing agreements on critical minerals and rare earth metals," Galuzin told Izvestia in an interview published on Wednesday.

"This is not merely about economic competition, ​but about an ​attempt to ⁠push Russia out and create a Western-controlled infrastructure in the immediate vicinity of ​our borders."

U.S. President Donald Trump called ​critical ⁠minerals a key priority as he hosted the leaders of five Central Asian nations at the White House ⁠in ​November, emphasising his administration's efforts ​to expand and secure U.S. supply chains through new global agreements.