Upholding Mineral Sovereignty: Global Trends in Resource Nationalism

The United Nations Day Against Environmental Exploitation in November 2025 emphasizes the need for nations to defend their mineral sovereignty. A recent Ipsos Canada poll reveals that 64 percent of Canadians support blocking the sale of national resource companies to foreign buyers, reflecting a global rise in resource nationalism. Indigenous groups, like the Osoyoos Indian Band in British Columbia, are opposing mergers like Teck Resources and Anglo American, citing concerns over extraction practices and lack of consultation. This trend is mirrored in mining communities in South Africa, where foreign-capital dependence undermines sovereignty and weakens governance. The Ipsos poll and Indigenous resistance underscore a global movement towards equitable and sustainable resource management, amidst growing corporate mergers that widen the wealth extraction gap.