From Battlefield to Battery: The Critical Mineral Supply Crisis

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In this episode of At the Boundary, guest host GNSI publications coordinator Heather Ward speaks with Dr. Vlado Vivoda of the University of Queensland to explore the strategic role of critical minerals in modern technology, clean energy, and national security.

Dr. Vivoda explains why minerals like lithium, cobalt, nickel, and rare earth elements are vital to everything from EV batteries and smartphones to advanced defense technology. The discussion highlights the risks of supply chain vulnerability, including China’s dominance in mineral refining and global production, and the regulatory challenges facing U.S. mineral policy.

 Key topics include:
🔹 The role of critical minerals in defense and energy
 🔹 Why the U.S. mineral supply chain is at risk
 🔹 How mineral recycling and alternative tech could reduce dependency
 🔹 The need for faster mine permitting and strategic resource planning

🎙️ Learn why securing critical materials is essential to global stability, economic resilience, and national defense.

Links from the episode:

• GNSI Decision Brief: “De Oppresso Liber – Applying Green Beret Identity and Ethos to Build U.S. Military Resiliency” By Drs. Joseph Long and Rob Burell and retired Lt General Charles Cleveland

• GNSI Video Series Interview with Ambassador John J. Sullivan

At the Boundary from the Global and National Security Institute at the University of South Florida, features global and national security issues we’ve found to be insightful, intriguing, fascinating, maybe controversial, but overall just worth talking about.

A "boundary" is a place, either literal or figurative, where two forces exist in close proximity to each other. Sometimes that boundary is in a state of harmony. More often than not, that boundary has a bit of chaos baked in. The Global and National Security Institute will live on the boundary of security policy and technology and that's where this podcast will focus.

The mission of GNSI is to provide actionable solutions to 21st-century security challenges for decision-makers at the local, state, national and global levels. We hope you enjoy At the Boundary.

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