Europe is facing a strategic dilemma – dependence on China for critical raw materials is no longer just an economic issue, but a security issue. According to data from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, Beijing controls about 90% of the global capacity for processing rare earth metals, while Europe covers less than 3% of its own needs, bTV reported.
When and how will the Old Continent manage to break away from this dependence – this is the big question with a horizon of 2030.
Stefan Borisov seeks answers in an interview with American businessman Neil Bush – son of the 41st US President George W. Bush and brother of the 43rd President George W. Bush Jr.
Bush warns that confrontation with China could be a dangerous strategy. “Instead of demonizing China and waging trade wars, we should be careful. China could cut off supplies of rare earth materials, which are critical for military technology, robotics and artificial intelligence“, he says.
According to him, the demand for these resources is growing explosively and will be even greater in the near future.
This is where an unexpected player appears - Bulgaria. “Countries like Bulgaria can play a key role in developing these resources“, emphasizes Neil Bush.
Against this backdrop, geopolitics is already revolving around raw materials. According to Bush, the agreement between the US and Ukraine on critical resources is part of a larger deal – a tool for stopping war, not a form of exploitation.
And Donald Trump's idea of acquiring Greenland? Bush explains it not only with strategic interest, but also with personal ambition. “Trump likes to be the “big bully”. He probably looks at the map and wants America to be bigger. But there is no need to take over Greenland – you can negotiate for resources and bases”, he commented.
While the world rearranges spheres of influence, Bulgaria is quietly looking for new wealth. Drilling is already underway in the Maritsa Basin. Cores up to 80 meters long have been extracted, which will be analyzed by the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences to determine the presence of rare earth elements.
If this is confirmed, a real economic turnaround for the region could follow.
“We are convinced that there is enough quantity that can create a lasting business trend“, states Todor Todorov, executive director of “Mini Maritsa-Iztok“. Thus, Bulgaria may turn out to be not just an observer, but a hidden trump card in the European strategy for independence from China.