Australia's defence budget surge boosts mining stocks

The U.S. Department of Defense has invested a total of $79 million in two companies mining critical minerals in Alaska, the latest sign of the Trump administration’s determination to build a more resilient supply chain for strategic metals. Excerpts from my story for Aviation Week Network below: The Trump administration announced on Oct. 6 that it would take a 10% stake in Canada-based Trilogy Metals in a $35.6 million deal that includes warrants for the federal government to buy an additional 7.5% of the company. Trilogy has mining claims in Alaska’s remote northwest. The news of the investment came alongside an executive order that President Trump signed the same day to increase the use of Alaska’s resources and build a 200-mi. road in the remote, noncontiguous U.S. state. “This is one of the richest copper locations in the country,” Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum said during the signing of the executive order. Copper is the second most widely used material by the Pentagon and is a crucial input for defense systems including aircraft, missiles, ships, submarines, ground vehicles and ammunition. Copper and its alloys play a crucial role in aerospace and defense supply chains given their excellent conductivity—both electrical and thermal—and corrosion resistance. The investment in Trilogy Metals comes roughly one week after the Defense Department’s announcement of a $43.4 million Defense Production Act (DPA) Title III award to Alaska Range Resources (ARR), a subsidiary of Australia-based Nova Minerals. The funding will allow ARR to extract, concentrate, and refine extracted stibnite to produce military grade antimony trisulfide, the Pentagon said in a statement. The U.S. has been struggling to source antimony since China—the world’s largest producer of the metal—restricted exports a year ago. Beijing implemented a full ban on antimony exports in December 2024. #aerospace #defense #military #nationalsecurity #supplychain #alaska #mining #commodities #copper #china https://lnkd.in/e_-B5vBg

The United States has just launched a $1 billion critical minerals stockpiling program — a clear signal that critical minerals are no longer just an economic issue. They’re a national security priority. Beijing’s latest export restrictions have sharpened the urgency. Washington is now moving at speed to secure domestic and allied supply chains — from mine to magnet to missile. Cobalt. Antimony. Scandium. Rare earths. These aren’t abstract commodities — they’re the building blocks of submarines, fighter jets, radar systems, and advanced manufacturing. This is industrial mobilisation in real time. And it’s a reminder that economic security is national security. The AUKUS nations have a shared interest in this race. Australia, with its vast resource base, is well placed to be a cornerstone supplier to allied defence industries. 🔸 Stockpiles are growing. 🔸 Supply chains are shifting. 🔸 Strategic competition is accelerating. This is not a niche conversation — it’s the foundation of the next industrial era. See https://lnkd.in/gUpNjish

Pakistan has dispatched its first-ever shipment of rare earth and critical minerals to the United States (US), a Chicago-based public relations (PR) firm announced this week. The move follows a landmark $500 million agreement between the two countries. The deal was concluded last month between US Strategic Metals (USSM) and Pakistan’s Frontier Works Organization (FWO), with the signing ceremony held at the Prime Minister’s House in Islamabad, according to the US Embassy. Under the agreement, both sides will collaborate across the critical minerals sector—covering exploration, beneficiation, concentrate production, and eventually the establishment of refineries in Pakistan—to support industries such as defense, aerospace, and technology.

America Needs a Rare Earth Industrial Policy   China currently controls roughly 85 percent of rare earth processing capacity worldwide. An estimated 78 percent of U.S. defense weapons systems rely on these critical minerals, creating a major vulnerability in military supply chains. Rare earths are essential for everything from infrared sensors in missiles to guidance systems in drones, and access is increasingly constrained by Chinese export restrictions.   The United States once led global rare earth production, but after the closure of the Mountain Pass mine in 2002, China consolidated its dominance. Policy experts argue that mining alone will not solve the issue. A complete domestic ecosystem is needed, from extraction to refining to downstream manufacturing, to avoid replacing one point of dependence with another.   But creating a full domestic ecosystem is no easy task. That's why at M2i Global, Inc. (OTCQB:MTWO) we have begun creating our Strategic Mineral Reserve, which will bring a domestic stockpile and marketplace to the United States and our trade partners, essentially pulling influence and investment away from Chinese-manipulated markets. Working alongside domestic and allied partners, we are bringing critical mineral infrastructure and supply chain security back to the U.S., and our efforts align with the broader national imperative to reduce exposure to geopolitical risks and build out a secure, resilient supply chain.   Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/gYb-wh_C   https://www.m2i.global   #CriticalMinerals #NationalSecurity #DefenseEconomy #RareEarths

America Needs a Rare Earth Industrial Policy   China currently controls roughly 85 percent of rare earth processing capacity worldwide. An estimated 78 percent of U.S. defense weapons systems rely on these critical minerals, creating a major vulnerability in military supply chains. Rare earths are essential for everything from infrared sensors in missiles to guidance systems in drones, and access is increasingly constrained by Chinese export restrictions.   The United States once led global rare earth production, but after the closure of the Mountain Pass mine in 2002, China consolidated its dominance. Policy experts argue that mining alone will not solve the issue. A complete domestic ecosystem is needed, from extraction to refining to downstream manufacturing, to avoid replacing one point of dependence with another.   But creating a full domestic ecosystem is no easy task. That's why at M2i Global, Inc. (OTCQB:MTWO) we have begun creating our Strategic Mineral Reserve, which will bring a domestic stockpile and marketplace to the United States and our trade partners, essentially pulling influence and investment away from Chinese-manipulated markets. Working alongside domestic and allied partners, we are bringing critical mineral infrastructure and supply chain security back to the U.S., and our efforts align with the broader national imperative to reduce exposure to geopolitical risks and build out a secure, resilient supply chain.   Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/eYy-tuvd   https://www.m2i.global   #CriticalMinerals #NationalSecurity #DefenseEconomy #RareEarths

America Needs a Rare Earth Industrial Policy   China currently controls roughly 85 percent of rare earth processing capacity worldwide. An estimated 78 percent of U.S. defense weapons systems rely on these critical minerals, creating a major vulnerability in military supply chains. Rare earths are essential for everything from infrared sensors in missiles to guidance systems in drones, and access is increasingly constrained by Chinese export restrictions.   The United States once led global rare earth production, but after the closure of the Mountain Pass mine in 2002, China consolidated its dominance. Policy experts argue that mining alone will not solve the issue. A complete domestic ecosystem is needed, from extraction to refining to downstream manufacturing, to avoid replacing one point of dependence with another.   But creating a full domestic ecosystem is no easy task. That's why at M2i Global, Inc. (OTCQB:MTWO) we have begun creating our Strategic Mineral Reserve, which will bring a domestic stockpile and marketplace to the United States and our trade partners, essentially pulling influence and investment away from Chinese-manipulated markets. Working alongside domestic and allied partners, we are bringing critical mineral infrastructure and supply chain security back to the U.S., and our efforts align with the broader national imperative to reduce exposure to geopolitical risks and build out a secure, resilient supply chain.   Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/ejH6uwAy   https://www.m2i.global   #CriticalMinerals #NationalSecurity #DefenseEconomy #RareEarths

💥 The Pentagon enters the critical minerals race The U.S. Department of Defense plans to buy $1 billion worth of cobalt, antimony, tantalum & other strategic metals — a bold move to cut dependence on China and secure key supply chains. This isn’t just procurement — it’s policy in motion.Critical minerals have become the new frontline of geopolitics, defense, and the energy transition. #CriticalMinerals #Cobalt #Antimony #Tantalum #Mining #SupplyChain #Defense #EnergyTransition #StrategicMetals #Commodities #Geopolitics #BatteryMetals #CleanEnergy #SustainableMining #US #China

🇺🇸 $65.5M STRATEGIC MINERAL BOOST: US Government backs Nova Minerals' antimony production in Alaska Critical vulnerability exposed: US currently imports 80%+ of antimony, with China (53%) and Russia (20%) controlling global supply. Why this matters for national security: ✓ Antimony is essential for military ammunition, night-vision devices, and missile systems ✓ Required for semiconductor manufacturing and energy storage technologies ✓ Supply disruption would cripple defense capabilities The Estelle project stands out with: → Exceptional antimony grades up to 60.5% (far exceeding global benchmarks) → Co-located gold values reaching 141g/t creating dual-revenue potential → Projected to supply 35-40% of US antimony needs The $65.5M grant accelerates: → Development timeline by 2-3 years → Path to production by late 2026 → Creation of 150-200 direct Alaskan jobs → First fully domestic antimony supply chain in decades This represents one of the largest recent US investments in critical minerals production under the Defense Production Act. How significant is domestic critical mineral production for reducing geopolitical vulnerabilities in your industry? Discover more about this strategic mineral development: https://lnkd.in/gc7ZxZnu

Strong news for Cobalt and for Cobalt Blue (ASX:COB). Reports that the U.S. Department of Defense is preparing a $1B strategic stockpile program, with up to $500m for cobalt, send a clear demand signal. It supports secure, traceable supply outside China and should lift pricing confidence and financing appetite. COB’s Broken Hill Cobalt Project aims to produce battery-grade cobalt sulphate in Australia, the exact profile allies want for defence, energy storage and EVs. A clear tailwind for the market and a positive read-through for COB as it advances development and offtake discussions. #cobalt #criticalminerals #ausbiz #COB #supplychain #defence https://lnkd.in/gH7dS3Kp

🔒 Pentagon's $1B Critical Minerals Stockpile Initiative Prioritizes National Security The U.S. Department of Defense has launched a comprehensive $1 billion stockpiling initiative to secure minerals essential for national security and defense capabilities. This strategic pivot represents a significant shift from market-driven approaches to state-directed resource security under the Trump administration (2025). Why does this matter? ✓ The U.S. is 100% import-dependent for 16 critical minerals. ✓ China controls 85-90% of rare earth processing globally. ✓ America's strategic stockpile value dropped from $42B in 1952 to just $888M by 2015. Major stockpile priorities include: → Cobalt ($500M): Essential for military aircraft engines. → Antimony ($245M): Critical for ammunition production. → Tantalum ($100M): Vital for missile systems electronics. → Rare earth elements: Required for guidance systems. Beyond stockpiling, the Pentagon is investing in domestic production at key sites including Alaska's Bokan Mountain, Nevada's Clayton Valley, and California's Mountain Pass facility. The DoD is also forming strategic partnerships with Australia, Canada, and the EU to secure additional supply channels. These minerals enable everything from F-35 fighter jets (requiring 920 pounds of rare earths per aircraft) to missile guidance systems and satellite communications. Enjoy this summary? Hit the 'like' button to let us know. Stay up to date with critical minerals by following this page. Read the full analysis of how the Pentagon is addressing this national security priority: https://lnkd.in/g-pPmQ95 #CriticalMinerals #NationalSecurity #Pentagon #DefenseIndustry #MineralResources