Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has mandated a comprehensive search for rare earth minerals within the country, a move that comes in the wake of heightened interest in such resources following a potential mineral agreement between the United States and Ukraine.
Focus on rare earth minerals and energy resources
According to reports from state-run media, Lukashenko has directed his Deputy Prime Minister, Yuri Shuleiko, to ensure that Belarus is no longer categorized as geologically underdeveloped. The president emphasized the urgency of the initiative, stating, “It is the number one topic today” while highlighting the critical role that rare earth elements play in various high-tech industries, including renewable energy.
During his address, Lukashenko noted, “There are not a lot of them in the earth. Perhaps we have them as much as the others,” suggesting that Belarus may possess untapped reserves of these vital materials. In addition to rare earth minerals, he has also urged geologists to investigate potential oil and gas deposits, asserting, “We have to dig and explore what deposits we have.”
Global context and economic implications
Rare earth minerals comprise a group of 17 elements essential for the production of numerous technologies, such as mobile phones and electric vehicles. The strategic importance of these materials has surged amid escalating economic competition between the United States and China, the latter being the world’s predominant producer of rare earth elements.
Recently, President Donald Trump has aimed to diminish U.S. reliance on Chinese resources, seeking to finalize a minerals deal with Ukraine as part of a broader military aid package. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy traveled to Washington last week with expectations of signing this agreement. However, a contentious discussion between Zelenskyy and Trump thwarted that agreement.
Currently, the U.S. government has suspended all military support to Ukraine, which it frames as a strategy to encourage Kyiv to engage in peacemaking efforts with Russia. Lukashenko, known for his authoritarian governance, has long been an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Belarus has played a significant role in Russia’s military actions against Ukraine since early 2022.