Trump Admin Backs Kazakhstan Rare-Earth Deal to Break Chinas Grip

Thinking About ChinaOpinionThe United States moves to secure rare-earth supplies and cut China out of the supply chain.President Donald Trump announces the creation of the U.S. strategic critical minerals reserve at the Oval Office in Washington on Feb. 2, 2026. Alex Wong/Getty ImagesAntonio Graceffo2/25/2026|Updated: 2/25/20260:00CommentaryBacked by the Trump administration’s financing, a U.S.–Kazakhstan rare-earth partnership aims to break China’s dominance over critical minerals essential to advanced defense technology and U.S. supply chain security.