Sinica Podcast Ukraine, China, and the Emerging Geopolitics of Resource Security
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May 22, 2025 
Ivan Us, Chief Consultant at the Center for Foreign Policy, discusses the U.S.-Ukraine Mineral Security Partnership. Jim Mullinax, a former Consul General, weighs in on military aid and political negotiations shaping Ukraine's alliance with the U.S. Grzegorz Stec examines the implications for European stability, while Xu Qinduo highlights China's strategic mineral leverage amid trade tensions. They delve into the complexities of resource security, the potential exclusion of China from reconstruction efforts, and how mineral diplomacy could impact global alliances.
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Ukraine's Strategic Mineral Partnership
- The U.S.-Ukraine Mineral Security Partnership began as a strategic move timed with the 2024 U.S. election and Trump administration's stance on Ukraine.
- Ukraine aimed for U.S. support by making the U.S. a "shareholder" in its victory through mineral resource cooperation.
Diversifying Mineral Sources From Ukraine
- The mineral deal aims to diversify critical mineral sources outside China, with Ukraine as a potential new supplier.
- The agreement includes wide-ranging resources, including hydrocarbons, highlighting broad economic and geopolitical interests.
Europe's Mixed Views on Deal
- Europe values U.S. commitment to Ukraine but worries U.S. dominance in Ukraine's minerals may sideline European interests.
- Dependence on China for critical minerals is a major European vulnerability driving urgency to diversify sources.