Where are the critical minerals flashpoints in 2025?

• Countries seek minerals-for-security deals
• New frontier emerges in global diplomacy
• Mineral-rich nations seek environmental, social protections

BRUSSELS - Critical minerals are playing an increasing role in global diplomacy, with the Democratic Republic of Congo seeking to trade its resources for security guarantees from the United States, which is brokering a similar deal with Ukraine.

With demand for minerals vital for renewable technologies set to almost triple by 2030, the race for resources such as lithium and cobalt is set to ramp up this year as Europe and North America seek to break China's grip on the supply chain.

But the environmental and social consequences for local populations are also growing as resource-rich countries accelerate the global green rush.

Here are some key countries and conflicts to watch in 2025.

Democratic Republic of Congo

The largest country in sub-Saharan Africa, the DRC is home to vast reserves of strategic minerals such as coltan, cobalt, copper and lithium, with its mineral wealth estimated at $24 trillion.

Conflict has periodically flared up for decades, fuelled in part by the illicit mineral trade, says the United Nations.

This year, armed groups such as Rwanda-backed M23 have seized control of mines, leading to the death of at least 7,000 people, with a further 600,000 displaced.

Since the M23 advance, the European Union (EU) has come under pressure to put a minerals deal with Rwanda on ice amid fears it is fuelling the conflict.
Kigali has long denied supporting the M23 rebel group.

Last December, the DRC filed criminal complaints against Apple subsidiaries in France and Belgium, accusing the tech firm of using conflict minerals in its supply chain.
Apple strongly disputes the claims.

Belgium has appointed an investigating judge to decide whether to bring criminal charges that could set a legal precedent in other cases of conflict over critical minerals.

Ukraine

Ukraine has deposits of 22 of the 34 minerals identified as critical by the EU and has the continent's largest reserves of titanium, used in wind turbines, fuel cells and batteries.

With these resources representing potentially trillions of dollars of untapped wealth, the country is edging towards a critical minerals deal with the United States, with Kyiv pledging some revenue from these resources to Washington.

President Donald Trump wants $500 billion in rare earth minerals to compensate for U.S. support since Russia's invasion, and an offer to Kyiv of a post-war 'security shield'.

Greenland

Greenland is rich in net-zero minerals such as graphite and lithium, widely used in batteries, or so-called rare earth elements that power electric vehicles and wind turbines.

The island's resources shot into the spotlight after Trump pledged to make Greenland part of the United States.

Although many Greenlanders see its mineral wealth as a path towards independence, mining companies have seen projects stall amid red tape and Indigenous opposition.

This could now change as pro-business Demokraatit Party secured a surprise victory in elections this week, a result that could boost Trump's bid to tap the island's mineral wealth.

Chile

Chile holds the world's largest reserves of lithium, dubbed "white gold" and used in energy storage and electric vehicles.

However, 90% of lithium reserves are in the Atacama desert and mining them uses vast amounts of water, depleting and contaminating limited supplies for business and Indigenous communities, while also threatening fragile ecosystems.

Chile said in 2023 it planned to take state control of the lithium industry and develop more sustainable extraction methods in consultation with affected Indigenous communities.

The government is expected to launch a national minerals strategy in 2025, and plans to invest about $83 billion through 2033, state-run agency Cochilco said in December.

Brazil

With reserves of nickel, lithium, cassiterite and bauxite, Brazil has seen a surge in mining activities as well as conflicts in Amazon areas that are rich in biodiversity and home to Indigenous peoples.

A report released last year by Brazilian NGO Terra de Direitos detected 348 conflicts pitting small-scale farmers, workers, Indigenous and Afro-descendant peoples against mining enterprises between 2020 and 2023.

Brazil plans to ramp things up this year with new exploration projects - particularly in the Jequitinhonha Valley in the southeast, focus of the state government's "Lithium Valley" project aimed at attracting investors.

This story was updated on Thursday March 13 to include updates on Ukraine and Greenland.

(Reporting by Joanna Gill; Additional reporting by Mariejo Ramos, Bukola Adebayo, Andre Cabette Fabio. Editing by Jack Graham and Clar Ni Chonghaile.)