Brazil's rare earths potential amid US-China competition reveals global mineral dependency and colonial legacies
Original framing: “Brazil jostles for rare earths share as US-China rivalry heats up” — Climate Home News
Brazil's mineral wealth has historically been exploited by colonial and imperial powers, from Portuguese rule to modern corporate interests. The current rush for rare earths echoes past patterns of resource extraction that enriched foreign economies while displacing and marginalizing local populations.
Brazil's rare earths potential is not just a geopolitical asset but a site of deep historical and ecological significance.
The current framing of Brazil as a passive player in the US-China rivalry obscures the agency of Indigenous and local communities who have long resisted extractive projects. A systemic solution requires integrating Indigenous governance, circular economy principles, and transnational cooperation to shift from extractive to regenerative resource management. By centering marginalized voices and ecological integrity, Brazil can model a new paradigm of mineral governance that aligns with global sustainability goals.