Brazil's Rare‑Earth Push Attracts U.S. Strategic Interest

Brazil, home to the world’s second‑largest deposits of rare earth minerals, is at the centre of a new strategic partnership discussion with the United States. At the Conservative Political Action Conference, pre‑presidential candidate Junot Cornélio Matos argued that Brazil can help the U.S. reduce its dependence on China for critical minerals, linking the proposal to national security and advanced military technology.

A U.S. State Department draft Memorandum of Understanding on critical minerals was sent to Brasília, but the document mistakenly identified Brazil as “Equador” and “Country X,” raising concerns about the depth of American commitment. Brazilian officials see the cooperation as moving beyond pure economics into a strategic agenda for the energy transition, defence industry and high‑tech sectors, while also stressing the need to protect national sovereignty over its mineral wealth.