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Natural resources consist of any raw material, whether biological, mineral, or environmental, that nature provides without human intervention, but which humans can utilize for their benefit (both material and immaterial).i These resources play a crucial role in a country’s economic prosperity and influence various aspects of domestic and military operations as these materials are used in manufacturing and infrastructure projects. Natural resources have always played a critical role in national security – from the grain basins of Egypt to feed the armies of Romeii to the oil-rich Dutch West Indies required for Imperial Japan’s Navy in the Pacific War.iii In fact, U.S. oil reserves and production proved a critical enabler to winning World War II.iv As military technology has evolved, so has the type of resources which prove critical. Both fossil fuels and iron appear a constant requirement for modern warfare, as demonstrated by the Russian/Ukraine conflict.v Yet, other resources, like rare earth minerals, appear to hold predominance in exquisite capabilities, including fifth- generation fighter aircraft. What are the most important materials for today’s strategic competition? In case of war, can the U.S. meet its natural resource requirements to feed its military-industrial complex domestically? Is self-reliance required or can the U.S. leverage its allies and partners for some of these resources? Beyond production and extraction, does the U.S. have access to resources within secure logistic lines? This brief identifies some of the essential critical resources for U.S. national security, their domestic availability, and strategic considerations for securing U.S. grand strategy in the 21st Century.

Publication Date

2-14-2025

DOI

https://doi.org/10.5038/PWKC5584

GNSI Decision Brief: Critical Resources for National Security

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