Why Did The U.S. Say These Minerals Were Vital to National Security?

The US Department of the Interior is responsible for managing the nation's natural resources. Their 2025 list of critical minerals includes 60 minerals deemed vital to the US economy and national security. What are some of the critical minerals on the list, and what is the significance of their inclusion?

Yeah, it's a great question. It's a very important list because it guides the federal strategy and investment as it relates to reducing reliance on foreign supply chains. Before this announcement, it included things like battery metals. So you think about lithium, nickel, other battery metals, rare earth, platinum, palladium. So a lot of common metals that are vital to the US economy and energy security.

This most recent round of updates actually added copper, silver, and uranium, along with seven other metals, to the list. So these are areas where we're really starting to see the federal government step up their game and add additional investment to the space, particularly in copper and uranium, where they're concerned. We've seen a lot of action, whether it comes through investments in infrastructure or companies directly, and that's really all geared at solidifying the supply chain.