Jammu, July 8 -- Once it was crude oil alone. Now, critical minerals have joined it as a key resource for any country striving to stand economically sovereign in the world. Wherever manufacturing is essential-such as in wind turbines, electric generators, electric vehicles, aircraft engines, and cars-a magnet is needed. And if a magnet is needed, rare earth minerals are indispensable. These are a subset of critical minerals, of which magnets are made.

Today, China leads the world in critical minerals, owning 42 million tons. More notably, it supplies 90% of the world's processed rare earth minerals. However, China sources much of this not from its own land, but from South America-particularly Argentina, Chile, and Bolivia.

To understand...