The United States is grappling with a situation that feels more like a poorly scripted B-movie than a pressing real-life crisis. While politicians indulge in their usual blame games and the State Department appears preoccupied with promoting global LGBTQ+ initiatives, the true threat looms quietly at the hands of China, which has set its sights on dominating the cobalt market. Indeed, cobalt—an element most people couldn’t identify in a lineup—has quickly become the strategic pawn in a precarious international chess game.
Though many Americans might not dwell on the significance of cobalt, its role in our technologically-driven world cannot be overstated. If we were to liken lithium-ion batteries—the power source for everything from electric vehicles to smartphones—to a holiday feast, cobalt would undoubtedly be the centerpiece turkey. Without cobalt, the functioning of our modern convenience comes screeching to a halt. The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) stands at the precipice, generating an astonishing 72% of the world’s cobalt supply. This alarming statistic serves as a wake-up call, highlighting a scenario where Chinese interests engage in bribery and strategic influence with shocking ease.
China’s mining powerhouse, CMOC, did not merely request permission to tap into the DRC’s rich reserves; it maneuvered through layers of corruption with unwavering zeal during the administration of former president Joseph Kabila. Subsequently, when Félix Tshisekedi ascended to power in 2019 and exhibited initial resistance to Chinese contracts, the optimism was short-lived. The Biden administration soon turned a blind eye, allowing CMOC to resume operations through what appears to be opportunistic negotiations. As all of this unfolds, American leaders are preoccupied with ensuring that cafeteria treats conform to diversity standards.
The struggle for lithium, another critical mineral in this geopolitical narrative, is far from insignificant. With domestic lithium sources stagnant, the United States finds itself at a disadvantage, allowing Argentine producers to export four times more lithium to China than to American shores. This situation resembles a regrettable trade blunder rather than sound economic policy; American companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange are complicit in this alarming trend, prioritizing profit over national security.
As U.S. sanctions plod along with the urgency of a lethargic sloth, corporations are already strategizing ways to mitigate legal implications while benefitting from China’s ascendancy. This issue deserves immediate attention from Congress; however, lawmakers seem more interested in trivial disputes rather than tackling critical national risks.
Analyzing past legislation could impart valuable lessons to today’s lawmakers. Under President Bill Clinton, the administration effectively prevented Conoco from infiltrating Iranian oil fields, followed by the enactment of the Iran-Libya Sanctions Act that explicitly asserted that American interests wouldn’t be compromised—even at the risk of alienating European allies. The current landscape demands similarly decisive actions in the face of China’s growing influence over the global resource market.
To counter these developments, the U.S. needs a comprehensive strategy to curtail Chinese operations in the DRC while actively seeking to regulate companies that facilitate lithium transfers to China. Each kilogram of cobalt or lithium that reaches Chinese territory represents a significant setback for American influence. Now is the time for legislators to extricate themselves from mindless squabbles and focus their efforts on solidifying the nation’s economic future. Failing to do so risks relinquishing our global standing with barely a second glance.
