"The Upcoming C5+1 Dialogue on Critical Minerals"
Wilder Alejandro Sanchez
Crossroads Asia
The Diplomat
1 June 2026
Published: https://thediplomat.com/2026/06/the-upcoming-c51-dialogue-on-critical-minerals/
On the sidelines of the Astana Mining & Metallurgy Congress, the C5+1 aims to deepen cooperation on critical minerals.
By: Екатерина Хван / Ekaterina Khvan
DW
10 February, 2026
Published: https://www.dw.com/ru/redkozemelnye-metally-v-centralnoj-azii-cto-predlagaut-ssa/a-75895880
США проявляют интерес к критически важным ресурсам в Центральной Азии. Эксперты считают, что для стран региона это шанс на инвестиции и технологическое развитие, но одновременно растут и геополитические риски.
Стратегический интерес США и перспективы сотрудничества
С тем, что стратегический интерес США в регионе связан, в первую очередь, с Китаем, согласен и Уайлдер Алехандро Санчес (Wilder Alejandro Sánchez), президент Second Floor Strategies, консалтинговой компании в Вашингтоне, округ Колумбия, соавтор отчета "Использование редкоземельных элементов Центральной Азии для экономического роста". "Администрация Трампа по-прежнему рассматривает Китай и его промышленность как конкурента или угрозу, и руководство обеих партий стремится сломать глобальную монополию Китая на критические минералы и редкоземельные элементы", - объясняет он.
Санчес напоминает, что на встрече в Вашингтоне присутствовали, в том числе, Казахстан и Узбекистан. Последний подписал меморандум о взаимопонимании по критически важным минералам и редкоземельным элементам. Астана и Вашингтон подписали аналогичный меморандум еще в ноябре 2025 года. Эти инициативы открывают возможности для более тесного сотрудничества США со странами региона.
Тем не менее, по мнению Санчеса, перспективы взаимодействия США с регионом остаются довольно сложными: лидерами процесса будут Казахстан и Узбекистан. При этом он сомневается в заинтересованности Кыргызстана и Таджикистана, хотя не исключает, что Душанбе может стремиться к большему объему инвестиций. Туркменистан, как предполагает эксперт, будет действовать более осторожно.
"Critical Matters: Reflections on Mining in Kazakhstan"
By: Assel Nussupova
Caspian Policy Center
7 April, 2025
Published: https://caspianpolicy.org/research/commentary/critical-matters-reflections-on-mining-in-kazakhstan
Wilder Alejandro Sánchez, President of Second Floor Strategies, a consulting firm in Washington, DC, provided three reasons behind Kazakhstan’s appeal as a location for mining investment. “Kazakhstan has many mining deposits. Moreover, the country already has a good international name in the mining industry due to the production of uranium. The country has a friendly investment climate aimed at attracting more investors, not scaring them away. The Kazakhstani government has created entities like the Astana International Financial Centre, with its arbitration center, and Kazakh Invest, to engage potential investors and industries. There are already many mining projects across Kazakhstan. However, the country is vast, and many deposits are yet to be found. So, mining companies know that Kazakhstan’s mineral deposits have not yet been exhausted.”
Wilder Alejandro Sánchez delineated some of the barriers facing foreign companies or investors wanting to get involved in mining in Kazakhstan. He pointed to three main challenges: “Kazakhstan continues to be regarded as a frontier market. There are concerns about corruption, embezzlement, and other bad financial practices. These are all issues that need to be addressed. Astana must continue to show the world that mining projects will be treated fairly and that the Kazakhstani government and that the nation’s private industries are reliable partners for international investors and companies. [Another factor is] distance: Kazakhstan is rich in minerals but far away from the global market due to its geographical location. Thus, the problem is not just getting the minerals out of the ground but processing them locally and transporting them (processed or raw) to the final destination. This is particularly problematic in the current era of geopolitical tensions. [There is also a] lack of knowledge about new mining deposits.”
"Not-So-Nearshoring: The Case for a US-Uzbekistan Critical Minerals Partnership"
Wilder Alejandro Sanchez
Opinion
Geopolitical Monitor
8 January, 2025
For the United States, obtaining access to critical minerals (CMs) and rare earth elements (REEs) is a strategy now associated with nearshoring. However, Washington is also engaging Uzbekistan, as the Central Asian nation is wealthy with CMs. The final quarter of 2024 saw several high-level meetings and agreements between Washington and Tashkent, which deserve more significant discussion.
"Protests Shutter Mozambique’s Balama Graphite Mine"
Wilder Alejandro Sanchez
Geopolitical Monitor
Situation Reports
30 December, 2024
Published: https://www.geopoliticalmonitor.com/protests-shutter-mozambiques-balama-graphite-mine/
Critical minerals and rare earth elements are commodities whose value continues to increase, given their importance to the global economy and new technologies. The problem is that many critical minerals are located in areas of the world that are either difficult to access or are unrest prone. The latter is the case of the Balama graphite mine in Mozambique, which recently shut down operations amid ongoing protests in the African nation.
"Angola Bets on Critical Minerals and the Lobito Corridor"
Wilder Alejandro Sanchez
Situation Report
Geopolitical Monitor
28 September, 2023
Originally published: https://www.geopoliticalmonitor.com/angola-bets-on-critical-minerals-and-the-lobito-corridor/
The African continent has many, many natural resources, which are highly coveted by the rest of the globe, including critical minerals (CMs). Angola, a country already known for its oil wealth, will soon have a more significant role in the global race to access critical minerals.
Wilder Alejandro Sanchez
Situation Report
Geopolitical Monitor
12 September, 2023
Originally published: https://www.geopoliticalmonitor.com/the-geopolitical-and-security-impacts-of-seabed-mining/
The summer blockbuster movie, The Meg 2: The Trench, focuses on prehistoric sharks, among other sea creatures, battling against Jonas, portrayed by Jason Statham, and his friends. A side plot of the movie concerns a particularly topical issue in the real world: seabed mining.
"Paraguay and Titanium: Failure to Launch?"
Wilder Alejandro Sanchez
Situation Reports
Geopolitical Monitor
01 August, 2023
Originally published: https://www.geopoliticalmonitor.com/paraguay-and-titanium-failure-to-launch/
“Paraguay will become the center of global titanium production,” was the headline of a November 2010 article in the BBC. Almost a decade and a half later, titanium production in Paraguay has yet to begin. Even more, by the own admittance of the country’s authorities, they are not sure how much titanium there is in the Alto Paraná department, where the deposits are located. Prospecting continues, but no public plans or timelines are available regarding when titanium production will commence, if ever.
"Lithium Industry: US Senate Approves Critical Tax Treaty with Chile"
Wilder Alejandro Sanchez
Situation Report
Geopolitical Monitor
7 July, 2023
Originally published: https://www.geopoliticalmonitor.com/lithium-industry-us-senate-approves-critical-tax-treaty-with-chile/
"Illegal Coltan Mining Fuels Colombian Narco-Insurgents"
Wilder Alejandro Sanchez
Situation Report
Geopolitical Monitor
20 June, 2023
Originally published: https://www.geopoliticalmonitor.com/illegal-coltan-mining-fuels-colombian-narco-insurgents/
Illegal mining is a widespread problem whose negative consequences include pollution, destruction of local ecosystems, and hazardous working conditions, not to mention the crime itself. In Colombia, illegal mining has an even more problematic dimension: coltan (and gold) is mined to finance narco-insurgents.
"Joining the Game: Peru Seeks to Exploit Lithium Deposits"
Wilder Alejandro Sanchez
Situation Report
Geopolitical Monitor
26 April, 2023
Originally published: https://www.geopoliticalmonitor.com/joining-the-game-peru-seeks-to-exploit-lithium-deposits/
"Bolivia’s Lithium Reserves: Unfulfilled Ambitions, New Promises"
Wilder Alejandro Sanchez
Situation Reports
Geopolitical Monitor
13 April, 2023
Originally published: https://www.geopoliticalmonitor.com/bolivias-lithium-reserves-unfulfilled-ambitions-new-promises/
