The Rare Earths Era

"""Interviews, visits, and trips were carried out around the world. The expeditionary spirit is accompanied by investigative scientific rigor. Thanks to an elegant exercise of analysis and disclosure, Chomon fuses and synthesizes information from many different sources and reveals with great amenity to the reality that lies behind these strategic and critical elements. He demonstrates his brilliant knowledge with respect to so many strategic as well as security issues in the rare earth context bridging the gap between theory and practice."" -- Professor Dr. Stefan Bayer, Head of Research German Institute for Defence and Strategic Studies and Co-Course Director of the Master of Military Leadership and International Security of the Helmut Schmidt University, Hamburg, Germany. ""Chomon embarks us on a fascinating journey into the unknown world of rare earths. His multidisciplinary approach and penetrating view reveals to us the essential role these critical metals play in some of the biggest challenges the world faces in our days. Listening to his call to diversify supply chains and to comply with the global obligation of international collaboration is as crucial as it is urgent."" -- ARNAULD AKODJENOU, Senior Advisor for Africa of the Kofi Annan Foundation and Former Inspector General of the United Nations High commissioner for Refugees ""Chomon undertakes a deep dive into the rare earth metal supply chains which form the material underpinnings of the modern world, and skillfully articulates how these are impacting Western geopolitical priorities. Underpinning Chomon' work are two primary narratives: the first is the uneasy relationship between rare earth metals' potential to allow humanity to modernize and decarbonize society, and the massive ecological costs of their extraction and processing. The second is China's dominance of the rare earth supply chain at all levels, and whose metals are greatly needed for Western political, economic, and military ambitions to materialize. The interweaving of these two narratives reveals the uneasy tension which sits at the heart of many countries' plans for the future, with no simple solutions apparent."" -- MARK CAZELET, Editor in Chief, European Security and Defense. ""Chomon's academic and international experience gives him the authority to reach valuable conclusions on such a complex and delicate subject. He is not half-hearted when it comes to pointing out the risks for the West of the Chinese monopoly on rare earths. His ability to disclose is accompanied by accurate data that compel us to reflect and for public authorities to act."" -- E. Figueredo, journalist, La Vanguardia, specialized in security matters ""Juan Manuel Chomon immerses us in the exciting reality of rare earths, revealing the West's dependence on minerals controlled for now by China and explaining how they could redefine global hegemony, spark resource wars and influence the energy transition. He asks: are we ready to understand how these strategic elements are redrawing the global geopolitical landscape?"" -- Christian D. Villaneva, CEO, ArmiesMagazine.com"