The China in Africa Podcast Lessons for Europe From China's Critical Minerals Strategy in Africa
Jul 3, 2025
Poorva Karkare, a senior policy analyst focused on Africa's industrialization, and Karim Karaki, head of ECDPM's Economic Recovery team, discuss Europe's struggles in the critical minerals market. They emphasize the EU's need for a cohesive policy to foster partnerships in Africa, contrasting it with China’s successful model of combining mining with infrastructure development. The duo reveals the geopolitical stakes in the mineral sector, advocates for strategic collaboration rather than competition with China, and highlights the complexities of investment risks in Africa.
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EU's Lag Behind China
- The EU lags in critical minerals strategy due to slow coordination and limited mining capacity.
- China’s model combines mining with infrastructure, which the EU should pragmatically emulate for Africa.
Value of Strategic Interdependence
- Working collaboratively with China and African countries creates strategic interdependence, reducing reliance on any single actor.
- This interdependence makes it harder for any party to weaponize critical mineral supply chains.
EU Should Bundle Support Measures
- The EU should offer integrated value-chain packages like China, combining financing, policy support, and export agencies.
- Coordination should remain transparent, separating development aid from commercial interests to maintain credibility.