Brazil · Critical Minerals
Key Facts
—President Lula declared Monday that Brazil will not surrender sovereignty over rare earths and critical minerals. Speaking at the Sirius particle accelerator in Campinas, São Paulo, the president framed Brazilian mineral exploration as a strategic national priority that international partners must respect.
—“We have no veto, no preference for anyone. Chinese, German, French, Japanese, American can come.” Lula’s exact language emphasized open partnership across borders while conditioning all engagement on Brazilian sovereignty. The framing positions Brazil as a critical-minerals destination but not a dependency.
—Brazil holds the world’s second-largest reserves of rare earth minerals. Only China is positioned ahead globally. The strategic value of Brazilian reserves has grown sharply as US-China tensions and global tech demand have made critical minerals a geopolitical asset.
