Building a new U.S. economic architecture and security model: establishing a critical minerals refinery and pursuing intergovernmental agreements with new partners

On March 11, 2025, it became known that Donald Trump is considering the creation of a critical minerals plant on land owned by the US Department of Defense.

Later, on March 20, the US President also signed a decree that provides regulatory simplifications for critical minerals projects and allows them to be financed from the state budget, particularly using the instruments of the US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC).

The Trump administration's response to the threat of critical minerals shortages involves a comprehensive approach based on two key pillars that combine tactical steps in domestic policy and strategic shaping of geopolitical foundations.

The first direction involves scaling up domestic processing, particularly through expanding metal refineries and using secondary resources, which will minimize dependence on imports and create new opportunities for American production.