Putin's secret plan to beat US, China in rare earths war amid Trump, Xi's tariff-ban battle

As U.S.-China trade tensions intensify, a new front opens in the global rare-earth race. President Vladimir Putin has ordered an expansion of Russia’s rare-earth mining sector. With nearly 658 million tons of reserves, Russia is positioning itself as a major supplier of critical minerals essential for smartphones, EVs, and modern weapon systems. Reports say Trump is also eyeing Russia’s “huge reserves” to reduce American dependence on China. Amid this rare-earth power struggle, Beijing briefly tightened export controls before softening its stance following the Trump–Xi meeting in Busan. China has since suspended new restrictions and cut tariffs, while Washington reciprocated with fentanyl-related tariff relief. Could Russia’s rare-earth play reshape the global tech and defense landscape?