2026-04-21T09:51:43Z Copyright (c) 2026, The RAND Corporation RAND Corporation https://www.rand.org/about/people/v/villalobos_fabian.html https://www.rand.org/pubs/commentary/2025/08/tanks-tech-and-tungsten-the-strategic-mineral-alliance.html 2025-08-22T16:00:00Z 2025-08-22T16:00:00Z

Prioritizing U.S.-E.U. cooperation on defense-related critical minerals could help both economies create trade rules to protect their growing mineral-technology industries, strengthen ongoing efforts, and streamline policy implementation.

https://www.rand.org/pubs/commentary/2024/12/securing-supply-chain-resilience-requires-a-common.html 2024-12-27T17:00:00Z 2024-12-27T17:00:00Z

While progress has been made on strengthening the resilience of supply chains, other gains are being left on the table. One reason why: The public and private sectors do not use a common vocabulary, leading to incomplete or misaligned incentives, priorities, and perspectives. It's time for a common vocabulary and vision.

https://www.rand.org/pubs/commentary/2024/04/assemble-the-bodyguard-of-lies-strengthening-us-military.html 2024-04-11T18:00:00Z 2024-04-11T18:00:00Z

Few aspects of warfare are as valuable as efforts to deceive adversaries. The U.S. military inevitably will face rivals who use deception to their advantage, so it should once again hone its own subterfuge skills—from the lowest levels, to gain a tactical edge, to the highest, to achieve strategic surprise.

https://www.rand.org/pubs/commentary/2024/02/reining-in-the-risks-of-robotaxis.html 2024-02-05T15:30:00Z 2024-02-05T15:30:00Z

Robotaxis are a complex tangle of technology and services with multiple stakeholders, so regulation is messy. There is, however, a process that has been designed to deal with such messy situations. It's called decisionmaking under deep uncertainty.

https://www.rand.org/pubs/commentary/2024/01/critical-minerals-can-pave-the-road-to-more-robust.html 2024-01-12T21:30:00Z 2024-01-12T21:30:00Z

In the developing world, mineral extraction and processing has historically caused not just environmental contamination but also corruption and displacement of local livelihoods. There are opportunities to improve the way companies from the Global North approach critical mineral projects there.

https://www.rand.org/pubs/commentary/2023/08/do-generals-dream-of-electric-tanks.html 2023-08-08T19:45:00Z 2023-08-08T19:45:00Z

Members of the House Armed Services Committee have expressed concerns over the electrification of Army combat vehicles. Though such concerns have some merit, there is also a larger issue motivating research and development efforts—the growing demand for energy on the battlefield.

https://www.rand.org/pubs/commentary/2023/06/understanding-americas-technological-tit-for-tat-with.html 2023-06-26T19:15:00Z 2023-06-26T19:15:00Z

China and the United States appear to be barreling towards a path that risks further ratcheting up the ongoing economic war. More-evolved strategies are needed beyond simple retaliatory spirals, to find peaceful equilibria and ensure technoeconomic competition does not spill over into military conflict.

https://www.rand.org/pubs/commentary/2023/04/do-car-companies-know-where-their-critical-minerals.html 2023-04-28T20:10:00Z 2023-04-28T20:10:00Z

The initial slate of electric vehicles qualifying for a new federal tax credit was announced in April. Key to eligibility is the source of critical minerals used in their batteries. While the list of acceptable nations of origin is still being worked out, there's an important practical question the IRS should ask: Do carmakers really know where their critical minerals come from?

https://www.rand.org/pubs/commentary/2023/04/militaries-metals-and-mining.html 2023-04-18T19:15:00Z 2023-04-18T19:15:00Z

Securing access to supply, increasing global and domestic capacity, and diversifying supply chains for critical minerals should be at the top of the agenda for both nations and private industry. Failure could jeopardize climate mitigation strategies and U.S. military readiness.

https://www.rand.org/pubs/commentary/2022/11/emerging-domestic-battery-supply-chain-should-be-wary.html 2022-11-15T20:45:00Z 2022-11-15T20:45:00Z

China has a huge stake in producing lithium-ion batteries, and is not above waging disinformation campaigns against U.S. firms involved in the battery supply chain. Extraction sector companies could work with cybersecurity experts and the U.S. intelligence community to educate their executives and local governments about any foreign disinformation risks.

https://www.rand.org/pubs/commentary/2022/11/enhance-us-rare-earth-security-through-international.html 2022-11-03T20:30:00Z 2022-11-03T20:30:00Z

Most rare earth elements and materials are sourced from overseas but China dominates extraction and processing. With closer multinational cooperation, the United States and its allies and partners could reduce vulnerabilities due to the dependency on China.

https://www.rand.org/pubs/commentary/2021/09/as-us-shifts-arctic-strategy-to-counter-russia-allies.html 2021-09-24T17:45:00Z 2021-09-24T17:45:00Z

U.S. strategy is shifting toward a renewed focus on the Arctic region, reflecting increasing Russian military activity there. U.S. forces could benefit from the knowledge and capabilities of partners and allies with extensive Arctic experience.